Is there a black hole at the center of the Milky Way?
Probably. There is evidence both in our own Milky Way galaxy and in other galaxies that large black holes occupy the centers. At the center of the Milky Way, for example, the presence of a massive black hole is the only reasonable explanation for the great velocities of stars orbiting the core.
Observations of other galaxies also show quite a bit of activity in their cores. The amount of energy measured seems to be far greater than stars alone can produce. In addition, the "galactic engine" at the core of some of these active galaxies occupies a small volume of space. Immense energy radiating from a tiny space suggests, to the best of our understanding, the presence of a black hole.
Astronomers who explore the universe with radio telescopes report strong, concentrated activity at the core of the Milky Way. One possible cause could be the presence of a black hole one million times the mass of the Sun. Perhaps a black hole does live at the center of our galaxy, shredding and gobbling up matter. We have plenty of time to find out before the galaxy "goes down the drain."
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