Observations of the gas cloud G2 in the Galactic center. Issue Volume 9:Issue S303(2013) (22nd May 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gillessen, S.; Genzel, R.; Fritz, T. K.; Eisenhauer, F.; Pfuhl, O.; Ott, T.; Burkert, A.; Schartmann, M.; Ballone, A.
• Is Part Of: Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union. Volume 9:Issue S303(2013)
• Page Start: 254
• Page End: 263
• Publication Date: 2014-05-22
• Subjects: Galaxy: center, -- black hole physics, -- infrared: general, -- ISM: clouds; Astronomy -- Congresses; Astronomy -- Periodicals; 520
• DOI: 10.1017/S1743921314000702
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1743-9213

Abstract

Abstract: In 2011, we discovered a compact gas cloud ("G2") with roughly three Earth masses that is falling on a near-radial orbit toward the massive black hole in the Galactic center. The orbit is well constrained and pericenter passage is predicted for early 2014. Our data beautifully show that G2 gets tidally sheared apart due to the massive black hole's force. During the next months, we expect that in addition to the tidal effects, hydrodynamics get important, when G2 collides with the hot ambient gas around Sgr A*. Simulations show that ultimately, the cloud's material might fall into the massive black hole. Predictions for the accretion rate and luminosity evolution, however, are very difficult due to the many unknowns. Nevertheless, this might be a unique opportunity in the next years to observe how gas feeds a massive black hole in a galactic nucleus.