Black holes · Ultramassive black hole
Phoenix A*
5.8 billion light-years · Light crosses it in 23 days
- Across
- 590.6 billion km
- Vs Earth
- 3,948 AU across
- Mass
- 100.0 billion Suns
Open Phoenix A* in Cosmic Scale
In the app, Phoenix A* is part of the Beyond pack.
About
Phoenix A* is the black hole at the heart of the Phoenix Cluster, and current estimates put it near 100 billion Suns — possibly the most massive known. Those estimates are indirect and uncertain, so treat the number with care.
Possibly the most massive black hole known — around 100 billion Suns.
At a glance
| Distance | 5.8 billion light-years |
|---|---|
| Mass | Estimated 100 billion Suns |
| Cluster | Phoenix Cluster |
| Certainty | Indirect estimate |
Did you know
- Its cluster forms stars at hundreds of times the usual rate for such systems.
- The mass comes from scaling relations, not from watching stars orbit, so it could be considerably lower.
- If the estimate holds, its event horizon would be as wide as about 65 Solar Systems laid end to end.