An mysterious object with a mass 50 times that of Earth has been observed near the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy, continuously growing over the past 20 years.
Researchers estimate that this mysterious object will disappear by the end of 2036 when it approaches and is engulfed by the black hole Sagittarius A*, which exists at the heart of the Milky Way.
This object is named X7, and it may be a cloud of dust and gas formed from the collision of two stars in the universe.
Black holes, also referred to as “cosmic monsters”, were predicted by Einstein’s theory of general relativity. They are formed when a massive star dies, leaving behind a small, dense core of matter.
If this core has a mass about three times that of the Sun, its gravitational pull will surpass all other forces, forming a black hole.
Image from the Keck Observatory taken in 2021 shows X7 and the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way. (Photo: Ciurlo).
In reality, when matter or objects in the universe cross the event horizon of a black hole, they are inevitably drawn in, including light, due to its gravitational force.
Scientists cannot directly observe black holes with telescopes; they can only infer their presence through effects like the disappearance of material from surrounding objects or bright spots in the universe that serve as evidence of a black hole consuming them.
The object X7 was first discovered in 2004 by the Galactic Center group at UCLA and has been monitored ever since.
The research team from the Keck Observatory in Hawaii and UCLA has detected its growth through near-infrared images captured by powerful telescopes.
Specifically, the object X7 is continuously evolving and currently measures about 3,000 times the distance from Earth to the Sun.
Anna Ciurlo, a research assistant at UCLA, stated: “X7 has started to take on the shape of a comet; initially, we thought it could be formed by stellar winds or particle jets from the black hole. However, over the 20 years that we have been tracking X7, we have seen it continuously elongate.”
To date, the origin of X7 remains a topic of debate. Researchers propose that it may be a cloud of dust and gas expelled from the collision of two stars.
The black hole will engulf X7 in 13 years
The object X7 has a mass of about 50 Earths. The research team estimates that by around 2036, its orbit will approach the Sagittarius A* black hole (located at the center of the Milky Way), after which its material will be consumed by this “monster.”
Image showing the development of X7 over nearly two decades. (Photo: Keck Observatory).
In a statement this Monday, scientist Anna Ciurlo emphasized: “This is a unique opportunity to observe the tidal forces of a black hole with high resolution, which will give us insights into the physics of the harsh environment at the center of the galaxy.”
Tidal forces are the gravitational pull that stretches an object as it approaches a black hole; the side of the object closest to the black hole is pulled much more strongly than the farthest side.
Co-author Randy Campbell from the Keck Observatory explained: “It’s fascinating to see significant changes in the shape and dynamics of X7 in detail over a relatively short period, as the gravitational influence of the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way affects this object.”
The research team will continue to monitor the spectacular changes of X7, witnessing this object meet its end under the power of the black hole right in our Milky Way.
