Orbit diagram of S2 around black hole at centre of the Milky Way

This diagram shows the motion of the star S2 around the supermassive black hole at the centre of the Milky Way. It was compiled from observations with ESO telescopes and instruments over a period of more than 25 years. The star takes 16 years to complete one orbit and was very close to the black hole in May 2018. Note that the sizes of the black hole and the star are not to scale.

Credit:

ESO/MPE/GRAVITY Collaboration

About the Image

Id:eso1825c
Type:Chart
Release date:26 July 2018, 14:00
Related releases:eso2017, eso1825
Size:2300 x 3400 px

About the Object

Type:Milky Way : Galaxy : Component : Central Black Hole
Category:Quasars and Black Holes

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