NASA's Milky Way Star Achieves 8% of Light Speed

Astronomers have discovered S301, the swiftest S-star in orbit around the Milky Way’s supermassive black hole, known as Sagittarius A*. This Sun-like star completes an orbit every 8.7 years and attains velocities exceeding 8% of the speed of light during its closest passage. Researchers indicate that its trajectory generates significant relativistic effects, including observable orbital precession, presenting a unique chance to evaluate Einstein’s general relativity theory in extreme scenarios. Upcoming observatories like the Giant Magellan Telescope are expected to yield even more accurate data, enhancing our comprehension of gravitational phenomena.