NASA has confirmed that Sagittarius A*, the black hole at the top-tier center, will become active again after millions of years
As it feeds, Sagittarius A* could generate accretion disks that reach temperatures of millions of degrees. It will emit radiation from the infrared to X-rays, an essential process for understanding the evolution of galaxies.
NASA has confirmed a shocking discovery about the future of our galaxy. The supermassive black hole Sagittarius A*, located at the center of the Milky Way, could become active again after millions of years of cosmic calm. Although the phenomenon promises to be colossal, astronomers clarified that Earth is not in danger.
The awakening of this colossus will occur when the Milky Way collides with the Large Magellanic Cloud, a neighboring galaxy. According to scientists, this event will happen in about 2 billion years.
Sagittarius A* has a mass equivalent to four million times that of the Sun and is located about 25,000 light-years from our planet. Despite its enormous size, it has remained inactive for millennia. However, a new study published by NASA warns that its calm could end.
When the Large Magellanic Cloud approaches, its gravity will pull gas and dust toward the center of the galaxy. That material will serve as fuel for Sagittarius A*, which will once again emit intense radiation, transforming into an active top-tier nucleus.
Astrophysicist Nathalie Degenaar, from the University of Amsterdam, explained that we will be able to detect that energy as visible, ultraviolet, and infrared light. Carlos Frenk, from Durham University, clarified that "the phenomenon will not be powerful enough to affect life on Earth."
Scientists agree that it will not. Joseph Michail, from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, pointed out that the 26,000 light-years separating the black hole from Earth is a safe distance. In addition, the planet's atmosphere and magnetic field will act as protective barriers against any type of radiation.
NASA's IXPE telescope detected that about 200 years ago Sagittarius A* had a small eruption. Previous evidence shows that an even more powerful explosion could have originated the so-called "Fermi Bubbles".
