February 24, 2021 New research suggests that the famous black hole Cygnus X-1 – first black hole ever detected and one of the closest to Earth – is farther away and much more massive than previously believed. A new study suggests that one of the closest black holes to Earth, and the first ever detected, is both farther away and more massive than we thought. The study – published February 18, 2021 in the peer-reviewed journal Science – says that Cygnus X-1 is about 7,200 light-years from Earth, 20% farther away than astronomers had previously believed. Before the study’s new measurements, the black hole was believed to be about 6,100 light-years away and 15 times the mass of the sun. With an increase in distance, Cygnus X-1 is now believed to be 50% larger than previous estimates. That would make this black hole about 21 times the mass of our sun.