Einstein ’s hypothesis of general relativity underpin our whole understanding of the large - musical scale universe . It also has limitation , and investigator have tested it time and time again over the last 100 years . The recent mental test construct on previous work using an incredible laboratory , a star revolve Sagittarius A * , the supermassive black gob at the marrow of the Milky Way .
Star S0 - 2 orbits Sagittarius A * every 16 class , getting as near as 17 billion kilometers ( 11 billion mi ) from it . The orbit is stable , but the intense gravitational field of view is still enough to grow effects such as gravitative redshift . The visible radiation of the star is slightly redder because photons have to hightail it the gravitative study .
S0 - 2 ’s last close passing occur in 2018 , andone year agoresearchers publish data on the gravitative redshift of the asterisk . This raw research , published inScience , combines that data with observation made since 1995 . Their upshot is consistent with general relativity and it categorically leave off a Newtonian model of gravity .
" Einstein ’s right , at least for now , " co - lead writer Professor Andrea Ghez , from UCLA , said in astatement . " We can dead rule out Newton ’s law of gravity . Our observance are consistent with Einstein ’s possibility of general theory of relativity . However , his theory is definitely showing vulnerability . It can not full explain gravitational force inside a mordant mess , and at some point we will take to move beyond Einstein ’s theory to a more comprehensive hypothesis of gravity that explains what a black hole is . "
Tracking this star for such a longsighted clip has given research worker treasured insights into how the gravitational kinetics around a black muddle play out . During the crucial close passage of May 2018 , Ghez ’s team took measurements of the star every four Nox .
" What ’s so special about S0 - 2 is we have its complete celestial orbit in three dimensions , " explain Ghez . " That ’s what give us the accounting entry just the ticket into the tests of general relativity . We ask how gravity behaves near a supermassive sinister golf hole and whether Einstein ’s theory is telling us the full tarradiddle . Seeing headliner go through their complete orbit provides the first opportunity to test fundamental physics using the motions of these stars . "
S0 - 2 is not the only whizz to revolve close to Sagittarius A * and it ’s not the close-fitting either . In 2012 , Ghez and her squad discovered S0 - 102 , which orbits the black hole in 11.5 years . It will feel its confining pass at some point next year , moving at over 1 pct of the speed of sparkle .
