Are we seeing 6 V838 Monocerotises orbiting our galaxy’s central supermassive black hole? It’s certainly possible. The number we see fits, the idea that they are stars embedded in dense dust clouds fits, the dynamics fit, and we have an example of just such a beast. There was a recent burst of star formation in the galactic center ~4–6 ga ago, which very well could have been when these binaries were born.

dust clouds with stars embedded in them.

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