scholarly journals 10.2. High proper motions in the vicinity of Sgr A∗: unambiguous evidence for a massive central black hole

1998 ◽  
Vol 184 ◽  
pp. 433-434
Author(s):  
A. M. Ghez ◽  
B. L. Klein ◽  
C. McCabe ◽  
M. Morris ◽  
E. E. Becklin
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Milky Way ◽  
Galactic Center ◽  
Robust Method ◽  
Proper Motions ◽  
Central Black Hole ◽  
Milky Way Galaxy ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Sgr A

Although the notion that the Milky Way galaxy contains a supermassive central black hole has been around for more than two decades, it has been difficult to prove that one exists. The challenge is to assess the distribution of matter in the few central parsecs of the Galaxy. Assuming that gravity is the dominant force, the motion of the stars and gas in the vicinity of the putative black hole offers a robust method for accomplishing this task, by revealing the mass interior to the radius of the objects studied. Thus objects located closest to the Galactic Center provide the strongest constraints on the black hole hypothesis.

scholarly journals A Statistical Estimation of the Occurrence of Extraterrestrial Intelligence in the Milky Way Galaxy

Galaxies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 5
Author(s):  
Xiang Cai ◽  
Jonathan H. Jiang ◽  
Kristen A. Fahy ◽  
Yuk L. Yung
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Estimation ◽  
Milky Way ◽  
Galactic Center ◽  
Model Simulation ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Extraterrestrial Intelligence ◽  
Milky Way Galaxy ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Peak Location ◽  
Intelligent Life

In the field of astrobiology, the precise location, prevalence, and age of potential extraterrestrial intelligence (ETI) have not been explicitly explored. Here, we address these inquiries using an empirical galactic simulation model to analyze the spatial–temporal variations and the prevalence of potential ETI within the Galaxy. This model estimates the occurrence of ETI, providing guidance on where to look for intelligent life in the Search for ETI (SETI) with a set of criteria, including well-established astrophysical properties of the Milky Way. Further, typically overlooked factors such as the process of abiogenesis, different evolutionary timescales, and potential self-annihilation are incorporated to explore the growth propensity of ETI. We examine three major parameters: (1) the likelihood rate of abiogenesis (λA); (2) evolutionary timescales (Tevo); and (3) probability of self-annihilation of complex life (Pann). We found Pann to be the most influential parameter determining the quantity and age of galactic intelligent life. Our model simulation also identified a peak location for ETI at an annular region approximately 4 kpc from the galactic center around 8 billion years (Gyrs), with complex life decreasing temporally and spatially from the peak point, asserting a high likelihood of intelligent life in the galactic inner disk. The simulated age distributions also suggest that most of the intelligent life in our galaxy are young, thus making observation or detection difficult.

scholarly journals Visible Shapes of Black Holes M87* and SgrA*

Universe ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (9) ◽  
pp. 154
Author(s):  
Vyacheslav I. Dokuchaev ◽  
Natalia O. Nazarova
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Event Horizon ◽  
Milky Way ◽  
Dark Spot ◽  
Disk Model ◽  
Milky Way Galaxy ◽  
Supermassive Black Hole ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Visible Images ◽  
Inner Parts

We review the physical origins for possible visible images of the supermassive black hole M87* in the galaxy M87 and SgrA* in the Milky Way Galaxy. The classical dark black hole shadow of the maximal size is visible in the case of luminous background behind the black hole at the distance exceeding the so-called photon spheres. The notably smaller dark shadow (dark silhouette) of the black hole event horizon is visible if the black hole is highlighted by the inner parts of the luminous accreting matter inside the photon spheres. The first image of the supermassive black hole M87*, obtained by the Event Horizon Telescope collaboration, shows the lensed dark image of the southern hemisphere of the black hole event horizon globe, highlighted by accreting matter, while the classical black hole shadow is invisible at all. A size of the dark spot on the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) image agrees with a corresponding size of the dark event horizon silhouette in a thin accretion disk model in the case of either the high or moderate value of the black hole spin, a≳0.75.

scholarly journals Micro-arcsecond astrometry with the VLBA

2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (S248) ◽  
pp. 141-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Reid
Keyword(s):  
Galactic Center ◽  
Galactic Plane ◽  
Proper Motions ◽  
Star Forming ◽  
Star Forming Regions ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Trigonometric Parallaxes ◽  
Sgr A ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Almost All

AbstractThe VLBA is now achieving parallaxes and proper motions with accuracies approaching the micro-arcsecond domain. The apparent proper motion of Sgr A*, which reflects the orbit of the Sun around the Galactic center, has been measured with high accuracy. This measurement strongly constrains Θ0/R0 and offers a dynamical definition of the Galactic plane with Sgr A*at its origin. The intrinsic motion of Sgr A*is very small and comparable to that expected for a supermassive black hole. Trigonometric parallaxes and proper motions for a number of massive star forming regions (MSFRs) have now been measured. For almost all cases, kinematic distances exceed the true distances, suggesting that the Galactic parameters, R0 and Θ0, are inaccurate. Solutions for the Solar Motion are in general agreement with those obtained from Hipparcos data, except that MSFRs appear to be rotating slower than the Galaxy. Finally, the VLBA has been used to measure extragalactic proper motions and to map masers in distant AGN accretion disks, which will yield direct estimates of H0.

scholarly journals SiO and H2O Masers in the Central Parsec of the Galaxy

1998 ◽  
Vol 164 ◽  
pp. 229-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl M. Menten ◽  
Mark J. Reid
Keyword(s):  
Galactic Center ◽  
Radio Continuum ◽  
Continuum Emission ◽  
Proper Motions ◽  
Infrared Images ◽  
Evolved Stars ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Sgr A ◽  
Central Parsec ◽  
Infrared Sources

AbstractWe have discovered maser emission from SiO and H2O molecules toward a number of evolved stars within the central parsec of our Galaxy. The maser positions can be registered with milliarcsecond precision relative to the radio continuum emission of the nonthermal Galactic center source Sgr A*. Since the masing stars are prominent infrared sources, our data can be used to locate the position of Sgr A* on infrared images of the Galactic center region. Using VLBA observations it will be possible to measure proper motions of the maser stars, which can be used to put constraints on the mass distribution in the central parsec.

scholarly journals Is Sgr A∗ Underfed, Underefficient, or Underdone?

1996 ◽  
Vol 169 ◽  
pp. 181-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonid M. Ozernoy ◽  
Reinhard Genzel
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Galactic Center ◽  
Lower Mass ◽  
Lower Efficiency ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Sgr A

We argue that the wind from IRS 16 and He I stars in the central 1 pc of the Galaxy is responsible for the peculiar features of accretion onto a putative black hole at the Galactic center. What makes Sgr A∗ unique is not that it is just underfed but, in addition, it has a much lower efficiency of accretion and possibly a lower mass, compared to the AGN case.

scholarly journals Feeding and feedback in nearby AGN – comparison with the Milky Way center

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (S303) ◽  
pp. 354-363 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Storchi-Bergmann
Keyword(s):  
Star Formation ◽  
Milky Way ◽  
Galactic Center ◽  
Formation Rate ◽  
Activity Cycle ◽  
Nuclear Region ◽  
Nuclear Activity ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Mass Outflow ◽  
Sgr A

AbstractI discuss feeding and feedback processes observed in the inner few hundred parsecs of nearby active galaxies using integral field spectroscopy at spatial resolutions of a few to tens of parsecs. Signatures of feedback include outflows from the nucleus with velocities ranging from 200 to 1000 km s−1, with mass outflow rates between 0.5 and a few M⊙ yr−1. Signatures of feeding include the observation of gas inflows along nuclear spirals and filaments, with velocities ranging from 50 to 100 km s−1 and mass flow rates from 0.1 to ∼1 M⊙ yr−1. These rates are 2–3 orders of magnitude larger than the mass accretion rate to the supermassive black hole (SMBH). These inflows can thus lead, during less than one activity cycle, to the accumulation of enough gas in the inner few hundred parsecs, to trigger the formation of new stars, leading to the growth of the galaxy bulge. Young to intermediate age stars have indeed been found in circumnuclear rings around a number of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN). In particular, one of these rings, with radius of ≈ 100 pc is observed in the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 1068, and is associated to an off-centered molecular ring, very similar to that observed in the Milky Way (MW). On the basis of an evolutionary scenario in which gas falling into the nuclear region triggers star formation followed by the triggering of nuclear activity, we speculate that, in the case of the MW, molecular gas has already accumulated within the inner ≈ 100 pc to trigger the formation of new stars, as supported by the presence of blue stars close to the galactic center. A possible increase in the star-formation rate in the nuclear region will then be followed, probably tens of millions of years later, by the triggering of nuclear activity in Sgr A*.

Structure and Kinematics of the Milky Way

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (S336) ◽  
pp. 148-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark J. Reid
Keyword(s):  
Rotation Curve ◽  
Milky Way ◽  
Spiral Structure ◽  
Galactic Center ◽  
Rotation Speed ◽  
Information Modeling ◽  
High Mass ◽  
Proper Motions ◽  
Dimensional Phase Space ◽  
The Galaxy

AbstractMaser astrometry is now providing parallaxes with accuracies of ±10 micro-arcseconds, which corresponds to 10% accuracy at a distance of 10 kpc! The VLBA BeSSeL Survey and the Japanese VERA project have measured ≈200 parallaxes for masers associated with young, high-mass stars. Since these stars are found in spiral arms, we now are directly mapping the spiral structure of the Milky Way. Combining parallaxes, proper motions, and Doppler velocities, we have complete 6-dimensional phase-space information. Modeling these data yields the distance to the Galactic Center, the rotation speed of the Galaxy at the Sun, and the nature of the rotation curve.

scholarly journals Compact Radio Cores in the Galactic Center and Elsewhere

1997 ◽  
Vol 163 ◽  
pp. 647-658
Author(s):  
Heino Falcke
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Galactic Center ◽  
Seyfert Galaxies ◽  
Proper Motions ◽  
Vlbi Observations ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Nearby Galaxies ◽  
Liner Galaxies ◽  
Sgr A ◽  
Observational Knowledge

AbstractCompact radio cores are not only common in radio galaxies and quasars but also in many nearby galaxies with low-active, supermassive black holes. One famous example is the Galactic Center source Sgr A*. Recent studies of proper motions and radial velocities of stars in the inner parsec of the Galaxy convincingly demonstrate the presence of a compact dark mass of 2.5 · 106M⊙in the nucleus of the Milky Way. Millimeter VLBI and submm observations of Sgr A*thus probe a region of only a few Schwarzschild radii in diameter. In this paper I will review our current theoretical and observational knowledge of this source and compare it to some famous LINER galaxies like NGC 4258, NGC 3079, and NGC 6500. In all cases these radio cores can be well explained by a standard AGN jet model, and, with the exception of Sgr A*, large scale outflows are observed that have powers comparable to those inferred from the radio cores. Recent VLBI observations of radio-weak quasars and HST observations of Seyfert galaxies indicate that these AGN also produce powerful jets which, however, have relatively less luminous radio cores than radio-loud quasars and the LINERs discussed here. Therefore, jets and compact radio cores appear to be natural constituents of an AGN, but the reason why apparently some jets are radio-loud and others not remains a mystery.

scholarly journals Masers and Galactic structure: Micro-arcsecond astrometry with the VLBA

2007 ◽  
Vol 3 (S242) ◽  
pp. 348-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Reid ◽  
A. Brunthaler ◽  
K. M. Menten ◽  
Xu Ye ◽  
Zheng Xing-Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Black Hole ◽  
Galactic Center ◽  
Galactic Plane ◽  
Infrared Images ◽  
Star Forming ◽  
Supermassive Black Hole ◽  
Star Forming Regions ◽  
The Galaxy ◽  
Trigonometric Parallaxes ◽  
Sgr A

AbstractAstrometric observations with the VLBA with accuracies approaching ~ 10 μas are being conducted in order to better understand the Galaxy. The location of Sgr A* on infrared images can be determined with an accuracy of a few mas, using stars with SiO maser emission as a calibration grid for infrared images. The apparent proper motion of Sgr A*, which is dominated by the effects of the orbit of the Sun around the Galactic center, has been measured with high accuracy. This measurement strongly constrains Θ0R0 and offers a dynamical definition of the Galactic plane with Sgr A* at its origin. The intrinsic motion of Sgr A* is very small and comparable to that expected for a supermassive black hole. When combined with infrared results, this provides overwhelming evidence that Sgr A* is a supermassive black hole. Finally, we are engaged in a large project to map the spiral structure and kinematics of the Galaxy. Preliminary trigonometric parallaxes, obtained with the VLBA, to eight massive star forming regions are presented.

scholarly journals Structure of the nuclear stellar cluster of the Milky Way galaxy

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (S303) ◽  
pp. 228-229
Author(s):  
Devaky Kunneriath ◽  
Rainer Schödel ◽  
Susan Stolovy ◽  
Anja Feldmeier
Keyword(s):  
Globular Clusters ◽  
Surface Brightness ◽  
Milky Way ◽  
Galactic Center ◽  
Host Galaxies ◽  
Dynamical Mass ◽  
Milky Way Galaxy ◽  
Stellar Cluster ◽  
Nuclear Cluster ◽  
Sgr A

AbstractNuclear star clusters are unambiguously detected in about 50–70% of spiral and spheroidal galaxies. They have typical half-light radii of 2–5 pc, dynamical mass ranging from 106 – 107 M⊙, are brighter than globular clusters, and obey similar scaling relations with host galaxies as supermassive black holes. The nuclear stellar cluster (NSC) which surrounds Sgr A*, the SMBH at the center of our galaxy, is the nearest nuclear cluster to us, and can be resolved to scales of milliparsecs. The strong and highly variable extinction towards the Galactic center makes it very hard to infer the intrinsic properties of the NSC (structure and size). We attempt a new way to infer its properties by using Spitzer MIR images in a wavelength range 3–8 μm where the extinction is at a minimum, and the NSC clearly stands out as a separate structure. We present results from our analysis, including extinction-corrected images and surface brightness profiles of the central few hundred parsecs of the Milky Way.

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