How far is Sagittarius B2 ($ ext{Sgr B2}$) positioned from the supermassive black hole $ ext{Sgr A*}$?
Answer
About 370 light-years away
The spatial relationship between the massive star-forming region, $ ext{Sagittarius B2}$, and the gravitational anchor of the inner galaxy, the supermassive black hole $ ext{Sagittarius A*}$ ($ ext{Sgr A*}$), is well-defined. $ ext{Sgr B2}$ is situated at a specific, relatively close distance of approximately 370 light-years from $ ext{Sgr A*}$. This proximity means that $ ext{Sgr B2}$ exists within the gravitational influence of the central behemoth, which helps create the high-pressure environment necessary for intensive star birth, even though the black hole itself does not directly create stars.
Related Questions
What title does Sagittarius B2 hold regarding star formation activity in the Milky Way?How far is Sagittarius B2 ($ ext{Sgr B2}$) positioned from the supermassive black hole $ ext{Sgr A*}$?Which observational technique is indispensable for viewing $ ext{Sgr B2}$ through obscuring interstellar dust?Why was the James Webb Space Telescope ($ ext{JWST}$) directed toward $ ext{Sgr B2}$?What fundamental physical principle dictates the massive star formation activity in $ ext{Sgr B2}$?What causes the extreme dynamism and high rate of stellar production in the Galactic Center region?What familiar stellar nursery serves as a benchmark for star formation in the quieter spiral arms, contrasting with $ ext{Sgr B2}$?What practical necessity leads to extremely long integration times, sometimes exceeding twenty-four hours, when observing $ ext{Sgr B2}$?How does a region of a cloud initiate star formation, according to the physics described for $ ext{Sgr B2}$?What type of stars frequently results from the high-pressure environment near the Galactic Center?