Even Near a Supermassive Black Hole, Stars Enrich the Interstellar Medium

A new study reveals that stars near Sagittarius A*—the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way—continue enriching the interstellar medium (ISM) despite the intense radiation from the black hole. The star IRS 3, a highly evolved asymptotic giant branch (AGB) star, sheds dust and other materials that survive the harsh environment. The researchers used the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to observe the star and its surrounding region, finding traces of alumina, amorphous silicates, and water in the dust. These findings suggest that AGB stars can produce and retain dust even in extreme radiation conditions. The star is about 0.55 light-years from Sgr A*, and it sheds about 20 Earth masses per year, indicating it is in the superwind phase of an O-rich AGB star. The study highlights the resilience of dust production in such environments and the role of AGB stars in shaping the ISM. The results are significant because they show that molecular material can persist in radiation-dominated regions, providing insight into the processes of star formation and galactic evolution.

• IRS 3 is a highly evolved AGB star located about 0.55 light-years from Sgr A*.
• The star has a mass of about 6 solar masses and is 72 million years old.
• The researchers used JWST's NIRCam, MIRI, and spectrometer to study the star's dust and emission.
• The study found traces of alumina, amorphous silicates, and water in the dust.
• The dust composition of IRS 3 is similar to that of AGB stellar envelopes.
• The star sheds about 20 Earth masses per year, indicating it is in the superwind phase.
• The study shows that even close to a supermassive black hole, stars can continue enriching the ISM with dust and molecular material.
• The findings are part of a larger effort to understand how AGB stars influence the ISM in extreme environments.

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