The Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian
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Our Galaxy's Black Hole is Spewing Out Planet-size "Spitballs"

  • This artist's conception portrays a collection of planet-mass objects that have been flung out of the galactic center at speeds of 20 million miles per hour (10,000 km/s). These cosmic "spitballs" formed from fragments of a star that was shredded by the galaxy's supermassive black hole.

    This artist's conception portrays a collection of planet-mass objects that have been flung out of the galactic center at speeds of 20 million miles per hour (10,000 km/s). These cosmic "spitballs" formed from fragments of a star that was shredded by the galaxy's supermassive black hole.

    Mark A. Garlick/CfA

    Low Resolution Image

    High Resolution Image