News in Brief Astronomy

Milky Way’s black hole may hurl galactic spitballs our way

Giant gas blobs are what’s left of gravity-shredded stars

illustration of Jupiter-sized gas blobs

DUCK! Blobs of gas roughly the mass of Jupiter (several illustrated) could form near the black hole at the center of the Milky Way and shoot into intergalactic space.

Mark A. Garlick/CfA

By Christopher Crockett

- More than 2 years ago

GRAPEVINE, TEXAS — The gargantuan black hole at the center of the Milky Way is a little like an unruly kid, hurling spitballs.