NASA Hubble and Webb find Omega Centauri’s first stellar-mass black hole

NASA says archival Hubble data, supported by Webb observations, have located the first stellar-mass black hole in the star cluster Omega Centauri. NASA’s follow-up materials say the black hole has a visible star companion shown in more detail in the accompanying animation and context image.[11][12][13] Why it matters: This is a concrete astrophysical finding from two flagship observatories working together, adding to the scientific value of both Hubble’s archive and Webb’s follow-up capability. Identifying a black hole in Omega Centauri also advances understanding of one of the most studied star clusters in the sky.[11][12][13] Key insights: NASA credits archival Hubble data plus supportive Webb observations for the discovery.[11] | The black hole is described as the first stellar-mass black hole found in Omega Centauri.[11][12] | NASA’s supporting assets indicate the object has a visible star companion, suggesting the system can be studied in detail.[12][13]