James Webb Space Telescope detects water, dust near Milky Way's central black hole
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The James Webb Space Telescope has detected water and oxygen-rich dust near the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way, astronomers announced on August 12, 2026. The findings, from observations of the aging star IRS 3 located just 0.55 light-years from Sagittarius A*, reveal that complex molecules can survive in the black hole's extreme radiation environment. Even as the star sheds its outer layers, it replenishes the raw materials for future star and planet formation.
Detection of Water and Dust
Using JWST's advanced infrared instruments, an international team led by Florian Peißker and Macarena Garcia Marin analyzed the surroundings of the star IRS 3, an asymptotic giant branch star just 0.55 light-years from Sagittarius A*. They found clear evidence of water molecules and oxygen-rich dust in the star's circumstellar envelope. Previously, it was unknown whether such molecules could form or survive in the harsh radiation field near a supermassive black hole. The discovery confirms that even in this extreme environment, old stars can produce and eject cosmic dust and water. The findings were published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.
Implications for Galactic Chemistry
The detection proves that molecular structures can persist near the galactic center, challenging earlier assumptions. IRS 3's powerful stellar winds carry gas and dust into the surrounding space, providing raw materials that could eventually coalesce into new stars and planets. This process suggests that even regions dominated by a supermassive black hole may contribute to the galaxy's chemical enrichment. The presence of water and oxygen-rich dust indicates that the building blocks for planetary systems are more widespread than previously thought. Scientists emphasize that these findings open new avenues for understanding the lifecycle of matter in galaxies.
What's Next
The research team plans to conduct follow-up observations of other stars near Sagittarius A* to determine how common such molecular reservoirs are. It remains unclear whether water and dust can exist even closer to the black hole, and how they might influence the formation of planets in the galactic center.
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James Webb Space Telescope detects water, dust near Milky Way's central black hole
