A 2. ′ ′ 4 × 2. A slight star is right in the southeast of the neighbor, but it has little effect on the astrometry of the source. For each star, an open green circle shows its location in E1 in 2011, and an open red circle marks its location at E11 in 2022. The stars of this galactic pouliage field generally move around 1 WFC3 / Uvis pixel (0. ′ 040) during 11 years. Credit: The astrophysical newspaper (2025). DOI: 10.3847 / 1538-4357 / Adbe6e
A team of astronomers from Space Telescope Science Institute, working with a colleague from the University of St Andrews Center for Exoplanet Science and another from the Southern European Observatory, confirmed the existence of a black hole alone. In their article published in The astrophysical newspaperThe group describes how they studied more recent data concerning an object they had spotted several years ago to confirm its identity.
In 2022, members of the same team mainly pointed out the discovery of what they described as a “dark object” moving through the constellation of Sagittarius. They suggested that it could be a black hole alone. Shortly after, a second research team challenged this result, suggesting that he was more likely a neutron star. After continuing to study the object, the original research team found more evidence in support of their initial affirmation that it is probably a black hole alone.
Before this new discovery, all the black holes that have been identified also had a complementary star – they are discovered because of their impact on the light issued by their companion star. Without such a companion star, it would be very difficult to see a black hole. The one identified by the team was only noticed because he passed a non-understanding distant star, magnifying his light and changing his position in the sky for a short time.
The research team made its first observations using Hubble data in the years 2011 to 2017. They found that the object under review was about seven times more massive than the sun, showing that it could not be a neutron star, leaving only a black hole as the only option.
In addition, the second research team revised their evaluation of neutron stars in 2023, agreeing that the object was indeed a black hole. They found that the object was approximately six solar masses, but the higher uncertainty to their extent still keeps it consistent with the most recent results.
Now, the latest study of the original research team marks the first time that the existence of a lonely black hole has been confirmed. They hope to find more examples with the Roman spatial telescope Nancy Grace, which should be launched in 2027.
More information:
Kilash C. Sahu et al, Ogle-2011-BLG-0462: an isolated black hole confirmed by using a new HST astrometry and updated photometry, The astrophysical newspaper (2025). DOI: 10.3847 / 1538-4357 / Adbe6e
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Quote: Astronomers confirm the existence of a black hole alone (2025, April 18) recovered on April 19, 2025 from
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