A black hole was discovered lurking quietly in a system just 1,000 light-years from Earth. The black hole, which is part of the system called HR 6819, is the closest black hole scientists have ever spotted.
Black holes are interesting things. We know they exist — and only recently had the opportunity to actually capture an image of one — but they’re typically very far away or are obscured from our view. They’re also invisible thanks to the fact that they gobble up light, making them even harder to detect.
Now, a team of astronomers at the European Southern Observatory have announced the discovery of a black hole that is much, much closer than any before it. It’s hiding out in a system just 1,000 light-years from Earth, and initially, it escaped the eyes of scientists.
Spotting black holes is a challenge, but it’s made slightly easier thanks to the material that often surrounds them.
