Discoveries by the European Southern Observatory and the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) Collaboration have found that Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole located at the heart of our galaxy, is spinning at a rapid pace and warping space-time around it. This new study, published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, utilized the outflow method to calculate the rotational speed of Sagittarius A*.
Lead author Ruth Daly, a physics professor at Penn State University, explained that the spin of the black hole causes what is known as the Lense-Thirring effect, or frame dragging, where space-time is dragged along with its rotation, altering its shape.
Daly and her team established that Sagittarius A* has a spin angular momentum value between 0.84 and 0.96, closer to the maximum value of 1, indicating its rapid rotation and influence on the surrounding space-time. This discovery sheds light on the role of black holes in galaxy formation and evolution. The mass and spin of a black hole provide critical insights into its formation – showing whether it was formed through mergers or accretion of surrounding gas.
This knowledge is crucial in understanding the history and structure of our galaxy and can potentially lead to the discovery of intriguing phenomena such as wormholes. The findings offer a fascinating glimpse into the secrets of the universe and the dynamic nature of its cosmic bodies. Join the conversation and explore the wonders of space by subscribing to CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter.
