Researchers Calculate Earth is 2,000 Light-years Closer to the Milky Way's Black Hole (phys.org) 27
"Earth just got 7 km/s faster and about 2000 light-years closer to the supermassive black hole in the center of the Milky Way Galaxy," reports Phys.org:
But don't worry, this doesn't mean that our planet is plunging towards the black hole. Instead the changes are results of a better model of the Milky Way Galaxy based on new observation data, including a catalog of objects observed over the course of more than 15 years by the Japanese radio astronomy project VERA.
CNET explains: Over the last 15 years, a Japanese radio astronomy project, VERA, has been gathering data. Using a technique called interferometry, VERA gathered data from telescopes across Japan and combined them with data from other existing projects to create what is essentially the most accurate map of the Milky Way yet.
By pinpointing the location and velocity of around 99 specific points in our galaxy, VERA has concluded that the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A, at the center of our galaxy, is actually 25,800 light-years from Earth — almost 2,000 light-years closer than what we previously believed.
In addition, the new model calculates Earth is moving faster than we believed. Older models clocked Earth's speed at 220 kilometers (136 miles) per second, orbiting around the galaxy's centre. VERA's new model has us moving at 227 kilometers (141 miles) per second.
CNET explains: Over the last 15 years, a Japanese radio astronomy project, VERA, has been gathering data. Using a technique called interferometry, VERA gathered data from telescopes across Japan and combined them with data from other existing projects to create what is essentially the most accurate map of the Milky Way yet.
By pinpointing the location and velocity of around 99 specific points in our galaxy, VERA has concluded that the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A, at the center of our galaxy, is actually 25,800 light-years from Earth — almost 2,000 light-years closer than what we previously believed.
In addition, the new model calculates Earth is moving faster than we believed. Older models clocked Earth's speed at 220 kilometers (136 miles) per second, orbiting around the galaxy's centre. VERA's new model has us moving at 227 kilometers (141 miles) per second.
Re: Closer to the hole? (Score:2)
This hole doesn't blow. It sucks!
Mmmhh... starshake!
Closer to a black hole? (Score:2)
That sucks.
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Re: Closer to a black hole? (Score:2)
We aren't "sucked"! Unles you mean in a comedic way.
You can orbit a black hole exactly the same as an equivalent -mass star( cluster).
It's not a vacuum cleaner, you know?
Re: (Score:2)
Necessity is the mother of invention. (Score:2)
Climate was so 2019. Covid was so 2020. Now falling into a black hole. That's the kind of panic worthy of the name.
Re: Necessity is the mother of invention. (Score:2)
Dude, you haven't had existential horror until you realize your're in between a blip of time separating you from a causal Münchhausen trilemma and an eternity of heat death that literally ends the arrow of time.
Another 2020 problem (Score:2)
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Presidential campaigning for 2024 starts Jan21 2021?
Re: (Score:2)
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Then don't say it "just got faster"! (Score:4)
Nothing changed. We only improved our calculations.
What a pathetic attempt at winding out of the half-assed-est of clickbait attempts.
Re: Then don't say it "just got faster"! (Score:1)
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Slashdot's entire purpose is to kick folks like you into self-righteous superiority mode, to keep you engaged and always coming back for more.
Mission accomplished I see.
That's a pretty big oopsie (Score:1)
I thought physicists were supposed to be geometry wizards. If a driver's ed student miscalculated the distance to the next car by 2000 light years I think he would fail.
What are they? (Score:2)
Google/Bing is your friend and all of that, but I don't see any of the alternative theories.
Heisenberg's uncertainty principle (Score:1)
Isn't that impossible?
Re: (Score:2)
Isn't that impossible?
scope!
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No. What gave you that idea?
Changes (Score:2)
Never trust a scientist (Score:2)