Abstract
A 2.2-µm image of IRS 16, the relatively blue infrared source near the galactic centre, is presented at the highest spatial resolution yet reported. It comprises several discrete, extended sources. By intercomparison of radio and infrared images of the region, the non-thermal radio source Sgr A* can be located relative to IRS 16 without the uncertainty of intermediate astrometric frames. No component of IRS 16 is coincident with Sgr A*. These data preclude the presence of a massive (>106 M⊙) black hole at the galactic centre. Any black hole present has a mass nearer to 100 M⊙.
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Alien, D., Sanders, R. Is the galactic centre black hole a dwarf?. Nature 319, 191–194 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1038/319191a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/319191a0
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