S2's orbital radius of 950 A.U. and an orbital period of 15 years are most consistent with S2being a star:
A)passing within a light-year of our solar system.
B)orbiting a 4 million solar mass object in the center of our Galaxy.
C)with a mass 4 million times the mass of our Sun.
D)in a globular cluster that has a mass about 4 million times the mass of our Sun.
E)being sucked into the black hole in the center of our Galaxy.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The orbital radius and period of S2 suggest that it is orbiting a very massive object with a mass of around 4 million solar masses, which is likely to be the supermassive black hole in the center of our Galaxy. This is consistent with choice B. S2's large orbital radius and period are consistent with a star orbiting a supermassive black hole, which has a mass of about 4 million solar masses, located in the center of our Galaxy.

S2's Orbital Radius of 950 A