Measuring Black Hole Spin with Star S301 | Science News

A star called S301 is dancing perilously close to our galaxy’s supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A, and its tight orbit may finally let scientists measure the black hole’s spin — something we’ve never directly observed. This star, likely ejected from a binary system, was caught by gravity and trapped in an extreme orbit, offering a rare chance to see how spacetime bends around a spinning black hole. Using four advanced telescopes, astronomers tracked this distant star, but measuring its spin requires precise data on both speed and orientation — a challenge that could take years and multiple stars. With the next close flyby in 2031 and new instruments coming online, researchers are hopeful this cosmic dance will unlock one of astrophysics’ biggest mysteries. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/014f1bcb2c2b6b90