Date Time Black hole is closest to Earth, among smallest ever discovered Scientists have discovered one of the smallest black holes on record – and the closest one to Earth found to date. Researchers have dubbed it “The Unicorn,” in part because it is, so far, one of a kind, and in part because it was found in the constellation Monoceros – “The Unicorn.” The findings were published today, April 21, in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. “When we looked at the data, this black hole – the Unicorn – just popped out,” said lead author Tharindu Jayasinghe, a doctoral student in astronomy at The Ohio State University and an Ohio State presidential fellow.