Could A Black Hole Sit At The Center Of The Sun?

Quite possibly, yes, say astronomers.

The Physics arXiv Blog iconThe Physics arXiv Blog
By The Physics arXiv Blog
Dec 21, 2023 4:42 PMDec 21, 2023 4:44 PM
sun
(Credit:Lukasz Pawel Szczepanski/Shutterstock)

Newsletter

Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news
 

Back in the late 1960s, the British astrophysicist Donald Lyndon-Bell deduced that most galaxies must have a supermassive black hole at their hearts. Since then much evidence has emerged to support this idea. In 2018, astronomers even took an image of the black hole sitting at the center of a nearby galaxy called M87.

It turns out that supermassive black holes play a crucial role in the evolution of galaxies by creating the gravitational field that binds stars together. They also swallow nearby dust and gas creating massive jets of energy that themselves create conditions ripe for star formation.

The supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy has a mass equivalent to about a million suns and a radius about the diameter of Mercury’s orbit around the sun.

0 free articles left
Want More? Get unlimited access for as low as $1.99/month

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

0 free articlesSubscribe
Discover Magazine Logo
Want more?

Keep reading for as low as $1.99!

Subscribe

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

Stay Curious

Sign up for our weekly newsletter and unlock one more article for free.

 

View our Privacy Policy


Want more?
Keep reading for as low as $1.99!


Log In or Register

Already a subscriber?
Find my Subscription

More From Discover
Recommendations From Our Store
Shop Now
Stay Curious
Join
Our List

Sign up for our weekly science updates.

 
Subscribe
To The Magazine

Save up to 40% off the cover price when you subscribe to Discover magazine.

Copyright © 2024 Kalmbach Media Co.