Astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery with the European space telescope Gaia, as they have identified a massive black hole in the Milky Way galaxy. Known as Gaia-BH3, this stellar black hole is located just 2,000 light-years from Earth, making it the second-closest black hole ever found.

Gaia-BH3 is the most massive black hole in the Milky Way, with a mass 33 times that of our sun. This discovery challenges previous assumptions about the formation of black holes, as scientists have found that metal-poor stars can indeed give birth to such massive celestial bodies.

The discovery of Gaia-BH3 was made possible by observing the motion of a companion star, which displayed a distinctive wobble that indicated the presence of the black hole. Gaia’s Black Hole Task Force was able to accurately measure the mass of Gaia-BH3, providing valuable insights into the existence of heavy black holes.

This significant discovery, detailed in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics, sheds light on the formation and nature of dormant stellar black holes. Scientists believe that studying Gaia-BH3 could help unlock the mysteries of black hole formation and evolution in our galaxy.

The proximity of Gaia-BH3 to Earth makes it an exciting and important discovery, as it offers a unique opportunity for researchers to study this massive black hole in unprecedented detail. As our understanding of black holes continues to grow, discoveries like Gaia-BH3 will play a crucial role in furthering our knowledge of the cosmos.