Spanish scientists have discovered the first binary system consisting of a black hole and a fast-spinning star known as a Be-type star. Although predicted by theory, none had previously been found. The observations that led to the discovery were performed with the Liverpool and Mercator telescopes at the Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos in the Canary Islands. The newly discovered black hole orbits a Be-type star located in the constellation Lacerta (the Lizard), 8,500 light years from Earth. The distinctive property of Be-type stars is their strong centrifugal force. They rotate very fast - close to their break-up speed - often exceeding 1 million kilometers per hour.