The Galactic Center stellar cluster : The central arcsecond ∗

With 10 years of high-resolution imaging data now available on the stellar cluster in the Galactic Center, we analyze the dynamics of the stars at projected distances ≤ 1.2 ′′ from the central black hole candidate Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*). We find evidence for radial anisotropy of the cluster of stars surrounding Sgr A*. We confirm/find accelerated motion for 6 stars, with 4 stars having passed the pericenter of their orbits during the observed time span. We calculated/constrained the orbital parameters of these stars. All orbits have moderate to high eccentricities. The center of acceleration coincides with the radio position of Sgr A*. From the orbit of the star S2, the currently most tightly constrained one, we determine the mass of Sgr A* to 3.3 ± 0.7 × 10 6 M⊙ and its position to 2.0 ± 2.4 mas East and 2.7 ± 4.5 mas South of the nominal radio position. The data provide compelling evidence that Sgr A* is a single supermassive black hole.