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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Science
Ian Sample Science editor

Astronomers discover Milky Way’s biggest stellar black hole – 33 times mass of sun

Black Hole Sun the Milky Way
Artist’s impression shows the orbits of both the star and the black hole around their common centre of mass.
Artist’s impression shows the orbits of both the star and the black hole around their common centre of mass. Photograph: ESO/L Calçada

Astronomers have discovered an enormous black hole which formed in the aftermath of an exploding star a mere 2,000 light years from Earth.

BH3 is the most massive stellar black hole yet found in the Milky Way and revealed itself to researchers through the powerful tug it exerts on a companion star that orbits the object in the constellation of Aquila, the Eagle.

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