Cygnus X-1

Galactic X-ray source in the constellation Cygnus that is very likely a black hole

Cygnus X-1 (abbreviated Cyg X-1) is a well-known galactic X-ray source. It is thought to be a black hole in the constellation Cygnus.

Chandra X-ray Observatory image of Cygnus X-1.

It was discovered in 1964 during a rocket flight, and is one of the strongest X-ray sources seen from Earth. Cygnus X-1 was the first X-ray source accepted as a black hole. It is among the most studied astronomical objects in its class. The compact object is estimated to have a mass about 14.8 times the mass of the Sun.[1] It is too small to be any known kind of normal star, or other likely object besides a black hole. If so, the radius of its event horizon is about 44 km.

References

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  1. Orosz, Jerome et al 2011. The mass of the black hole in Cygnux X-1. Astrophysical Journal. 742 (2). [1]