Speaking of long-dead stars, astronomers have detected a high-energy X-ray source in Cygnus that we can’t see with our eyes or backyard telescopes, but that is detectable by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. Discovered in 1971 during a rocket flight, Cygnus X-1 is the first X-ray source to be widely accepted as a black hole. This black hole is the final stage of a giant star’s life, with a mass of about 20 Suns. Cygnus X-1 is spinning at a phenomenal rate – more than 800 times a second – while devouring a nearby star. Astronomically speaking, this black hole is in our neighborhood, 6,070 light years away. But it poses no threat to us, just offers a new way to study the universe. Check out the beautiful bird in your sky this evening, and you will be delighted to add Cygnus to your go-to summer viewing list and visit NASA’s Black Hole Basics page to learn more!
Originally posted by Dave Prosper: May 2023Last Updated by Kat Troche: July 2026