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Sagittarius A*: Explore the Heart of the Milky Way

Discover interactive visualizations, up-to-date research summaries, and learning resources about our galaxy's supermassive black hole.

About Sagittarius A*

What is Sagittarius A*?

Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*) is the compact radio source at the center of the Milky Way associated with a supermassive black hole. We break down the observations, history, and significance of this object in accessible language for all audiences.

  • Mass & Scale: ~4 million solar masses concentrated in a very small volume.
  • Observations: Radio, infrared, and X-ray evidence from telescopes around the world.
  • Why it matters: Sgr A* is our nearest laboratory for studying black hole physics and galactic dynamics.
Snapshot

Key facts, discovery timeline, and visualization links for quick reference.

Read research

Interactive Explorer

Interactive Explorer

Launch interactive models and timeline tours that let you visualize orbits, gravitational effects, and multiwavelength observations.

Live Simulation

Use the controls to toggle star orbits, view the accretion flow, and simulate how observations change across different wavelengths.

Research & Publications

Research & Publications

Curated summaries of peer-reviewed papers, mission results, and accessible explainers written for non-specialists.

Latest Observations

Summaries of recent VLBI, infrared, and X-ray campaigns with implications for black hole physics.

Learn more
Foundational Papers

A guided reading list and plain-language summaries of landmark studies on Sgr A*.

Read summaries
Data & Tools

Links to open data, software tools, and notebooks for educators and researchers.

Access data

Education & Outreach

Education & Outreach

Classroom modules, hands-on activities, and public talks designed for K-12 and undergraduate audiences.

Lesson Plans

Standards-aligned lessons on gravity, orbits, and observational astronomy.

Download
Workshops & Kits

Teacher kits and community workshop guides with low-cost classroom activities.

See events

Events & Community

Events & Community

Public talks, star parties, online webinars, and collaborative hackathons focused on galactic center research.

Upcoming Webinar

Live Q&A with researchers — next date: Nov 18

Register
Star Party

Community observing night with guided telescope sessions.

Join
Hackathon

Data challenge: model stellar orbits using public data sets.

Participate

Contact & Newsletter

Stay in touch

Sign up for our newsletter or get in touch with questions, outreach requests, or media inquiries.

Press & Partnerships

Contact our communications team for interviews, collaborations, and educational partnerships.

  • communications@sagittariusastar.org
  • Virtual outreach — global