Sagittarius A*

Located at the center of the Milky Way galaxy, near the border of the constellation of Sagittarius, is Sagittarius A* (pronounced A-star), a supermassive black hole. In 2019, the black hole, M87*, made history by being the subject of the first picture ever taken of the astrological phenomenon, but in 2022, Sagittarius A* was the second. This piece is inspired by two very different views one could have of Sag A*, and black holes in general: from afar, it’s breathtaking. Light distorts around the hole in an effect called “gravitational lensing” and, hypothetically, if one could see a black hole in person, the size alone of this negative space would be mind-blowing. But, from within, you would not survive. As you fell into it, you would experience “spaghettification” and your field of vision would be further enveloped by nothingness.