See How The First Ever Image of a Black Hole Was Obtained

On Wednesday, April 10th 2019, the world was treated to something unprecedented - the first-ever image of a black hole! Specifically, the image captured the Supermassive Black Hole (SMBH) at the center of M87 (aka. Virgo A), a supergiant elliptical galaxy in the Virgo constellation.

Already, this image is being compared to pictures like the "pale blue dot" taken by the Voyager 1 mission or the "Earthrise" image taken by Apollo 8. Like these images, the picture of the M87 black hole has captured the imagination of people all around the world.

The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration produced the first-ever image of a black hole, which lies at the center of the M87 galaxy 55 million light-years from Earth. The image showed a bright ring with a dark center, which is the black hole's shadow. In capturing this image, astronomers noticed a significant amount of polarized light around the black hole. Now, the collaboration has revealed a new look at the black hole, showing what it looks like in polarized light.

Polarized light waves have a different orientation and brightness compared with unpolarized light. And, just like how light is polarized when it passes through some sunglasses, light is polarized when it's emitted in magnetized and hot areas of space.

To capture the black hole, the collaboration used eight telescopes from around the world, combining their power to create a virtual Earth-sized telescope (the EHT).

"The radio telescopes of the EHT have receivers that record the sky signal in polarized light," Ivan Marti-Vidal, also a coordinator of the EHT Polarimetry Working Group and GenT Distinguished Researcher at the Universitat de Valencia in Spain, told Space.com. "These polarized receivers work in a way similar to that of the polarized sunglasses that some people use.

Comments

China Makes History Again: Chang'e-6 Returns with Groundbreaking Moon Samples

In a remarkable achievement, China has successfully collected samples from the far side of the moon, marking a significant milestone in space exploration. The Chang'e-6 mission, launched on May 3, touched down in the Apollo crater within the vast South Pole-Aitken basin on June 1. During its brief but productive stay, the spacecraft gathered approximately 2 kilograms of lunar material using a scoop and drill. The samples, now stored in an ascent vehicle, are expected to return to Earth on June 25, landing in Inner Mongolia. This historic achievement not only demonstrates China's space program prowess but also provides scientists with a unique opportunity to unravel the mysteries of the moon's formation and evolution. Achievements: - *First-ever samples from the far side*: Chang'e-6 successfully collects lunar material from the moon's less-explored hemisphere. - *Second successful farside landing*: China builds on its 2019 achievement wi...

Fram2 Mission Breakdown – Real or CGI?

The Fram2 mission has sparked intense debates online, with some celebrating it as a breakthrough in private spaceflight while others dismiss it as CGI trickery. Launched by SpaceX on March 31, 2025, Fram2 became the first human spaceflight to enter a polar orbit, passing over both the North and South Poles. Unlike previous missions that remained in lower latitudes, this trajectory provided a unique perspective of Earth, making the footage appear different from what most people are used to seeing. The crew consisted of private individuals, not career astronauts, including a cinematographer, a crypto entrepreneur, a robotics expert, and a polar explorer. They were not just tourists; they conducted real scientific experiments, including studying radiation exposure, atmospheric data collection, and how certain materials behave in microgravity. Despite this, conspiracy theorists quickly labeled the mission as fake, claiming the footage looked “too perfect” and accusing SpaceX of using a...

Tracking the International Space Station: A Guide to Spotting the Orbiting Wonder

The International Space Station (ISS) is a magnificent engineering marvel orbiting our planet, serving as a hub for scientific research and international cooperation. Many enthusiasts and stargazers enjoy observing the ISS as it passes overhead, creating a mesmerizing spectacle in the night sky. Tracking the ISS is an exciting and rewarding endeavor, and this article will guide you on how to do it effectively. 1. Know the Basics: Before you begin tracking the ISS, it's important to understand a few key details. The ISS orbits the Earth at an altitude of approximately 408 kilometers (253 miles) and travels at a speed of about 28,000 kilometers per hour (17,500 miles per hour). It completes an orbit around the Earth in roughly 90 minutes. 2. Find the Right Time: To increase your chances of spotting the ISS, you need to know when it will be visible from your location. Numerous websites and smartphone applications provide real-time tracking information tailored to your specific l...

Jabar Space News🚀

Search This Blog