Astronomers have discovered a new class of objects at the center of our Galaxy using the Keck Observatory on Maunakea. By combining 13 years of data (part of a project known as the Galactic Center Orbits Initiative), they identified four new objects that look like gas but behave like stars. This new class of objects, called G objects, appear compact most of the time, and then stretch out when their orbits bring them closest to the supermassive black hole (known as Sagittarius A*). The astronomers believe that the unique behavior of the G objects is due to the strong gravitational forces of the black hole pulling material off the objects when they get close. These events are expected to create an explosive fireworks show, as the material heats up and emits copious amounts of radiation before it disappears into the black hole. Read more in the Keck news release here.