Gaia BH3
| Observation data Epoch J2016.0 Equinox J2016.0 | |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Aquila |
| Right ascension | 19h 39m 18.72s[1] |
| Declination | +14° 55′ 54.2″[1] |
| Characteristics | |
| K2 star | |
| Evolutionary stage | K2 |
| Black hole | |
| Evolutionary stage | Stellar black hole |
| Astrometry | |
| Orbit[2] | |
| Period (P) | 11.6 yr |
| Details[2] | |
| K2 | |
| Mass | 0.76±0.05 M☉ |
| Black hole | |
| Mass | 32.70±0.82 M☉ |
| Other designations | |
| Database references | |
Gaia BH3 (Gaia DR3 4318465066420528000) is a binary system consisting of a metal-poor K2 star and a stellar-mass black hole. Gaia BH3 is located 1839 light years away (0.5906±0.0058 kpc away) in the constellation of Aquila, making it as of 2024[update] the heaviest known black hole system second-closest to Earth. Gaia BH3 is the third black hole discovered from Gaia DR3 astrometric data.[2]
The black hole and star orbit the system barycentre every 11.6 years, with an orbital distance ranging from 4.5–29 AU.[3] The black hole's mass is 32.70 M☉, the heaviest known stellar black hole in the Milky Way.
Discovery
Gaia BH3 was originally found by astrometric observations with Gaia in 2015 and became a black hole binary candidate by the European Space Agency on 16 April, 2024. [2][4]
References
- ^ a b Vallenari, A.; et al. (Gaia collaboration) (2023). "Gaia Data Release 3. Summary of the content and survey properties". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 674: A1. arXiv:2208.00211. Bibcode:2023A&A...674A...1G. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202243940. S2CID 244398875. Gaia DR3 record for this source at VizieR.
- ^ a b c d Panuzzo, z; Panuzzo (2024). "Discovery of a dormant 33 solar-mass black hole in pre-release Gaia astrometry". The Astrophysical Journal. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202449763.
- ^ Dunham, Will (April 16, 2024). "Astronomers detect Milky Way's second-largest known black hole". Reuters.
- ^ "Most massive stellar black hole in our galaxy found". European Southern Observatory. 16 April 2024. Archived from the original on 16 April 2024.
