Sagittarius A* vicinity contains dust and water, JWST finds

Using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), an international team of astronomers has discovered that dust and water can survive in the extreme environment near Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way.

The observations focused on IRS 3, an evolved star located approximately 0.55 light-years from the black hole. Currently in its asymptotic giant branch phase, the star is shedding material through powerful stellar winds. Despite the intense radiation and gravitational forces of the galactic center, the JWST’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) detected clear signatures of oxygen-rich silicate dust and water molecules within the star’s surrounding envelope.

This finding demonstrates that even in highly irradiated environments, evolved stars can continue to enrich their surroundings with fundamental molecular materials. Such processes are critical for the potential creation of future generations of stars and planets.