When scientists find black holes, these enigmatic space objects are usually found hundreds, if not thousands, of light-years away from Earth. However, astronomers have recently announced that there is a black hole close by to the planet.
Express reports that scientists were able to discover a black hole within the star system HR 6819. The black hole, also known as LB-1, is now the closest black hole to Earth, at a distance of 1,011 light-years away, overtaking the previous black hole by 2,500 light-years. According to astronomers at the European Southern Observatory, this black hole that was found is relatively small, with the size of being four times as big as the Sun.
Petr Hadrava of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic and co-author of the study that was published in the Astronomy & Astrophysics journal said, “We were totally surprised when we realized that this is the first stellar system with a black hole that can be seen with the unaided eye.”
According to ESO Scientist Thomas Rivinius, who led the study, “This system contains the nearest black hole to Earth that we know of.”
The researchers were initially studying a binary star system found within the cluster when they came across a third, invisible entity that also appeared to be interacting with the stars. After analyzing its interaction with the nearby stars, they were able to predict the entity’s mass. This led Dr. Rivinius to conclude that the invisible entity would be a black hole.
“An invisible object with a mass at least four times that of the Sun can only be a black hole,” said the astronomer.
Black holes have always been a mystery to scientists, especially as these entities can have an immensely powerful gravitational pull that not even light can escape it. How black holes could also grow to supermassive sizes is also a mystery, and scientists have to figure out ways of understanding why these space objects grow to be so big.
Scientists have since brought up theories as to how black holes as big as the ones seen today by astronomers came to be. One new theory was that a large amount of gas and dust clumped up together in one part of the universe and, due to their own gravitational pull, collapsed in on themselves.


Is space worth the cost? Accounting experts say its value can’t be found in spreadsheets
Neuralink Plans High-Volume Brain Implant Production and Fully Automated Surgery by 2026
NASA Partners with Katalyst to Save Swift Observatory with Innovative Docking Mission
Trump and Merck KGaA Partner to Slash IVF Drug Costs and Expand Fertility Coverage
Blue Origin’s New Glenn Achieves Breakthrough Success With First NASA Mission
Ancient Mars may have had a carbon cycle − a new study suggests the red planet may have once been warmer, wetter and more favorable for life
Trump Administration to Launch Autism Initiatives Targeting Acetaminophen Use and New Treatment Options
Cogent Biosciences Soars 120% on Breakthrough Phase 3 Results for Bezuclastinib in GIST Treatment
Astronomers have discovered another puzzling interstellar object − this third one is big, bright and fast
Eli Lilly’s Inluriyo Gains FDA Approval for Advanced Breast Cancer Treatment
SpaceX’s Starship Completes 11th Test Flight, Paving Way for Moon and Mars Missions
Neuren Pharmaceuticals Surges on U.S. Patent Win for Rare Disorder Drug 



