Gaia BH3: The Largest Stellar-Mass Black Hole in the Milky Way

Gaia BH3 is the third black hole discovered by the European Space Agency’s Gaia telescope. It holds the title of the largest stellar-mass black hole in the Milky Way galaxy.

Table of Contents

Overview

Gaia BH3 is the third black hole discovered by the European Space Agency’s Gaia telescope. It holds the title of the largest stellar-mass black hole in the Milky Way galaxy.

Key Facts About Gaia BH3

Location: Constellation Aquila
Distance from Earth: ~2,000 light-years
Type: Stellar-mass black hole
Significance: Largest known stellar-mass black hole in the Milky Way

Difference Between Stellar Black Hole & Supermassive Black Hole

Feature	Stellar-Mass Black Hole	Supermassive Black Hole
Formation	Forms from the gravitational collapse of a single massive star or the merger of two neutron stars.	Exact formation mechanism is unknown, but they are believed to grow by accreting matter and merging with other black holes.
Size & Mass	Ranges from 3 to 50 times the mass of the Sun.	Starts at 50,000 times the mass of the Sun and can grow to millions or billions of solar masses.
Location	Scattered throughout galaxies, formed from dying stars.	Always found at the center of galaxies.
Example	Gaia BH3 (Milky Way)	Sagittarius A* (Supermassive black hole at the Milky Way’s center).

Why is Gaia BH3 Important?

Largest stellar-mass black hole discovered in our galaxy.
Enhances our understanding of black hole formation and evolution.
Helps in studying binary star systems and gravitational interactions in space.