# Astronomical observations of supermassive black holes > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/astronomical-observations-of-supermassive-black-holes > Updated: 2026-08-27T09:15:03.000Z. Sources: 87. Developments: 5. Astronomers have identified significant activity involving supermassive black holes through various observations. In galaxy J0148-4214, researchers identified three active supermassive black holes for the first time, which are accumulating matter through accretion disks. Using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), an international team led by the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics observed this system as it existed approximately 1.2 billion years after the Big Bang. The discovery revealed two black holes near the galaxy center, separated by roughly 620 light-years, and a third located approximately 5,500 light-years away in the outskirts. In a separate finding, studies of the quasar H1821+643 using the XRISM X-ray satellite revealed that its supermassive black hole emits energy across a distance three times the diameter of the Milky Way. Researchers determined these emissions are approximately 100 times greater than previous estimates, comparable to the energy of several billion supernovae. A study led by Satoshi Yamada of Tohoku University, published in Nature Astronomy, utilized the chemical signatures of ionized iron atoms to determine the velocity and turbulence of surrounding hot gas. Regarding the Milky Way, observations from the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope have identified S301, the fastest known star in the galaxy. Orbiting the central supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A*, S301 reaches speeds of approximately 25,000 kilometers per second, or about 8% of the speed of light. This velocity is roughly “100,000 times faster than a commercial jet.” Detected using the Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI) and the GRAVITY+ instrument in Chile, the star follows a highly eccentric 8.7-year orbit that brings it within about 12 astronomical units of the black hole. Scientists believe S301 may have originated from a binary star system torn apart by the black hole's gravity. ## Claims - Astronomers have discovered S301, the fastest known star in the Milky Way. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The star S301 reaches speeds of 25,000 km/s at its closest point to the black hole. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The star completes its orbit around Sagittarius A* in 8.7 years. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The discovery was made using the Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI) at the European Southern Observatory. (corroborated by 4 sources) - Sagittarius A* has a mass approximately four million times that of the Sun. (corroborated by 4 sources) - S301 travels at approximately 8% of the speed of light. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Astronomers have discovered S301, the fastest star observed orbiting the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A* in the Milky Way. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The star S301 travels at a speed of 25,000 kilometers per second, approximately 8% of the speed of light. (corroborated by 3 sources) - S301 completes one full orbit around Sagittarius A* in approximately 8.7 years. (corroborated by 3 sources) - At its closest point, the star reaches a distance of about 11.5 astronomical units from the black hole, similar to Saturn's distance from the Sun. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The proximity and speed of S301 provide a unique opportunity to measure the rotation of the Sagittarius A* black hole. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The star, designated S301, orbits the Milky Way's central black hole, Sagittarius A*. (corroborated by 3 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-27: S301 star discovery could reveal Sagittarius A* black hole spin Astronomers discovered S301, the fastest star in the Milky Way, which orbits the Sagittarius A* black hole at over 8% the speed of light, potentially revealing the black hole's spin. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/s301-star-discovery-could-reveal-sagittarius-a-black-hole-spin ### 2026-08-24: S301 star discovered as fastest moving object in the Milky Way Astronomers have discovered S301, the fastest star in the Milky Way, traveling at 25,000 km/s as it orbits the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A*. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/s301-star-discovered-as-fastest-in-the-milky-way ### 2026-08-21: S301 star discovered orbiting Milky Way black hole at record speed Astronomers have discovered S301, the fastest star in the Milky Way, which orbits the central black hole Sagittarius A* at 25,000 km/s, potentially allowing for measurements of the black hole's spin. 12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/s301-star-discovered-orbiting-milky-ways-central-black-hole-at-extreme-speeds ### 2026-08-19: S301 star discovered as fastest in Milky Way orbiting central black hole Astronomers have discovered S301, the fastest star in the Milky Way, which orbits the central black hole Sagittarius A* at 25,000 km/s, potentially allowing tests of Einstein’s theory of relativity. 62 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/jwst-detects-three-feeding-black-holes-in-early-galaxy-j0148-4214 ### 2026-08-17: Astronomers discover multiple supermassive black holes and massive energy emissions Astronomers have discovered three active supermassive black holes in galaxy J0148-4214 and found that the quasar H1821+643 emits energy far exceeding previous scientific estimates. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/astronomers-discover-multiple-supermassive-black-holes-and-massive-energy-emissions --- Cite as: Astronomical observations of supermassive black holes. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/astronomical-observations-of-supermassive-black-holes