Simulation of gas cloud being ripped apart by the black hole at the centre of the Milky Way

This simulation of a gas cloud passing close to the supermassive black hole at the centre of the galaxy shows the situation in mid-2013. Observations with ESO’s Very Large Telescope confirm that the cloud is now so stretched that the front part of it has passed the closest point and is travelling away from the black hole at more than 10 million km/h, whilst the tail is still falling towards it.

Credit:

ESO/S. Gillessen/MPE/Marc Schartmann

About the Image

Id:eso1332b
Type:Simulation
Release date:17 July 2013, 12:00
Related releases:eso1332
Size:4500 x 2812 px

About the Object

Name:Milky Way, Milky Way Galactic Centre, Sgr A*
Type:Milky Way : Galaxy : Component : Central Black Hole
Distance:25000 light years
Category:Quasars and Black Holes

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