The gas orbiting Sagittarius A (Sgr A*), the supermassive black hole at the centre of the Milky Way galaxy, is rich in metals, researchers at McGill University's Trottier Space Institute have found. The metal enrichment probably resulted from stars that exploded and released material into the black hole's surroundings over time, they said.
The team also learned this gas is similar in composition to many of the stars in the black hole's orbit, suggesting the gas and stars may have formed together.
Sgr A* is closer to Earth, and therefore easier to see, than any other supermassive black hole. These findings could advance understanding of how metals are distributed around supermassive black holes in more distant galaxies, as well as the processes that supplied Earth with many of these elements, the researchers suggested.
