The newly discovered black hole is closer to Earth than any other black hole discovered so far. Only 1,550 light-years away, the black hole is located “practically in Earth’s backyard,” according to the researchers.
Detecting black holes remains a challenge for astronomers. The attraction of a black hole is so great that not even light can escape from it. As a result, black holes can only be detected indirectly.
Astronomers mainly look at the way stars move through the universe. Deviations in it may indicate the presence of a black hole. To discover this black hole, scientists examined the motions of 200,000 so-called binary stars.
It is almost impossible to photograph a black hole. Astronomers succeeded for the first time in 2019. Earlier this year, so far Best picture Made from a black hole. This black hole can be found at a distance of 27,000 light years from Earth.
Scientists are gaining more and more knowledge about black holes. The discovery of a black hole very close to Earth will also contribute to this. Perhaps more than a million black holes are hidden in the Milky Way, the galaxy of which Earth and the Sun are part.