Map of the Universe
Cygnus X-1
Black hole · X-ray binary in Cygnus containing a stellar black hole
About Cygnus X-1
Cygnus X-1 is about 7,241 light-years from the Sun, so the light we see from it left about 7,241 years ago.
It is 25,615 light-years from the centre of the Milky Way.
The map lists it as a black hole and shows it among the stars around the Sun, drawn on the plane of the Milky Way.
The first black hole ever identified (1971): 21 solar masses, orbiting a blue supergiant.
Key numbers
| Distance | 7,241 light-years (2,220 pc) |
|---|---|
| Distance from the Galactic centre | 25,615 light-years |
| Galactic coordinates | l = 71.30°, b = +3.10° |
Where it is
Its place in the universe, from the inside out: Orion–Cygnus Arm (Local Arm) › Milky Way › Local Group › Virgo Supercluster › Laniakea Supercluster › Observable universe.
Zoom out to see it in context: Local Arm, a view about 12,000 light-years across.
From Wikipedia
Cygnus X-1 (abbreviated Cyg X-1) is a galactic X-ray source in the constellation Cygnus and was the first such source widely accepted to be a black hole.
Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Cygnus X-1, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearby on the map
- V404 Cygni Black hole
- Cygnus X Nebula
- Ring Nebula Planetary nebula
- North America Nebula Nebula
- Veil Nebula Supernova remnant
- Cat's Eye Nebula Planetary nebula