Recent findings from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope indicate that IRS 3, an evolved star located near the Milky Way's central black hole, Sagittarius A*, is experiencing substantial mass erosion. Positioned approximately 0.6 light-years, or 42,000 astronomical units, from the black hole, this star is enveloped by a structure that spans about 10,000 astronomical units. Scientists estimate that IRS 3 is shedding material equivalent to the mass of Earth every 18 days. Additionally, the JWST has identified water molecules within this envelope, providing fresh perspectives on the survival of molecular material in proximity to a supermassive black hole.
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