In this episode of Cosmos in a Pod, we uncover the secrets of Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the centre of the Milky Way. This cosmic powerhouse, with a mass millions of times that of the Sun, anchors our galaxy and influences its evolution.

What You'll Learn:

• What is Sagittarius A?*
  • A supermassive black hole located 26,500 light-years from Earth.
  • Mass: 4 million times the Sun; event horizon: 24 million kilometres across.
• How Was It Discovered?
  • From radio emissions in the 1970s to the groundbreaking image the Event Horizon Telescope captured in 2022.
• The Role in Our Galaxy:
  • Governs the motions of stars and gas in the galactic center.
  • It influences star formation and stabilizes the Milky Way's core.
• Challenges in Observing Sagittarius A*
  • Hidden by dense gas and dust, studied using radio, infrared, and X-ray telescopes.

Why It Matters:

Sagittarius A* is key to understanding the dynamics of our galaxy and the evolution of supermassive black holes across the universe.

Join us as we journey to the Milky Way's heart and explore this cosmic giant's mysteries. Subscribe, share, and stay curious about the universe! 🌌