Rapid Spin of Milky Way's Black Hole Warps Spacetime
A new study reveals that Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at our galaxy's center, is spinning at 60% of its maximum speed, significantly altering the surrounding spacetime.
- NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and NSF’s Very Large Array have discovered that Sagittarius A* is spinning rapidly, causing spacetime to bend into a football shape.
- The black hole's spin rate is about 60% of the maximum possible, with 90% of its maximum spin energy, indicating a very high angular velocity.
- This rapid spinning could lead to more active black hole behavior, including stronger jets, if more material accumulates around Sagittarius A*.
- The study used an innovative method combining X-ray and radio data to accurately determine the black hole's spin.
- Understanding the spin of supermassive black holes like Sagittarius A* helps scientists grasp how they influence the universe around them.
Tech Explorist 
NASA 