Science & Tech 19 August 2026
Astronomers Discover Universe's Fastest Star 'S301' Orbiting Supermassive Black Hole
Why in the News?
Astronomers have discovered a new star named 'S301' near 'Sagittarius A*', the supermassive black hole at the center of our Milky Way galaxy. It has been identified as the fastest-moving star ever observed in the universe.
Key Features / Major Points:
Extreme Velocity: The star S301 orbits the black hole at a staggering speed of 25,000 kilometers per second (approx. 15,500 miles per second), which is roughly 8% of the speed of light.
Short Orbital Period: It completes one full revolution around the supermassive black hole in just 8.7 years due to its extremely tight orbit.
Discovery Instrument: It was detected using the Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI) at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in Chile.
Testing Einstein's Theory: S301 provides a unique opportunity to directly measure the spin of a supermassive black hole and test the 'Lense-Thirring Effect' predicted by Einstein's General Theory of Relativity.
Static GK Facts:
Sagittarius A* & Astronomy:
Location: Galactic Center of the Milky Way (Sagittarius Constellation)
Type: Supermassive Black Hole (Mass ~4 million times that of the Sun)
ESO Headquarters: Garching, Germany (Observatories located in Atacama Desert, Chile)
One-Liner Quiz (All Competitive Exams):
What is the name of the supermassive black hole located at the center of the Milky Way galaxy?
Answer: Sagittarius A*
Which scientist proposed the General Theory of Relativity in 1915?
Answer: Albert Einstein