Limited Predictability of Stars' Motion near Milky Way's Central Black Hole
The orbits of 27 stars near the black hole at the center of the Milky Way are chaotic and unpredictable, making it difficult to confidently predict their positions after about 462 years. Simulations by astronomers reveal that small interactions between stars cause exponential changes in their orbits, leading to unpredictability. This phenomenon, called "punctuated chaos," challenges previous assumptions about the behavior of stars near black holes and requires new definitions and understanding in astronomy.