Various types of stars can be found throughout the Universe, some of which possess unusual characteristics and behaviors. Recently, new discoveries have been made: a rare brown dwarf orbiting a massive star has been detected, and a unique object known as S301 has been identified.

Characteristics of Object S301

S301 is located near Sagittarius A*—the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way. It was first observed in 2023 using the Gravity instrument on the Very Large Telescope. Subsequent observations allowed astronomers to track its movement and determine that S301 follows a highly elongated orbit.

Research has shown that S301 was once part of a binary star system that approached the black hole at a critical distance. As a result of this interaction, S301 was captured by the black hole’s gravity, while its stellar companion was ejected from the system.

Unique Features of S301

The most remarkable feature of S301 is its high velocity—about 24,900 kilometers per second, which is roughly 8% of the speed of light. S301 orbits Sagittarius A* on a very tight path, completing a full revolution every 8.7 years and coming as close as twelve times the distance between Earth and the Sun.

Significance for Astronomy

S301 could play an important role in future research. Thanks to its unique properties, astronomers may have the opportunity to measure the spin of the Sagittarius A* black hole for the first time. Such measurements will require around ten years of observations.