Astronomers using a telescope have detected the fastest known star in the Milky Way, identified as S301. This fast-moving star is hurtling around Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the heart of the galaxy.
S301 is approximately 50% more massive and five times brighter than the sun. It is also the closest known star to the Milky Way's central black hole, approaching it at a distance similar to that of Saturn to the Sun.
The star travels at speeds up to about 90 million km per hour, or 25,000km (15,500 miles) per second. This velocity is 100,000 times faster than a commercial plane and represents 8% of the speed of light.
Due to its extreme proximity, S301 could open a new window into the fundamental properties of Sagittarius A*. Researchers believe the star may yield insights into the black hole and may specifically allow for the measurement of its rotation.