Type

Stellar mass

Location

In the constellation Ara

Distance

26,000 light-years

Mass

3.8 times the mass of the Sun

Size

Diameter 14 miles (23 km)

Discovery Methods

• Detection of an accretion disk
• Measuring the motions of gas

An artist's concept shows superhot gas spiraling around XTE J1650-500, which astronomers say is the smallest black hole yet discovered. The gas comes from a bloated companion star, which is shown in the background. The black hole may be about 3.8 times as massive as the Sun, which is about half as much as a typical "stellar-mass" black hole. [NASA/CXC/A. Hobar]

This document was last modified: June 27, 2008.