Українська
русский
Science

Astronomers get the clearest image of a black hole (photo)

Ihor Romanko

Scientists have obtained the clearest photo of the black hole M87
Scientists get the clearest photo yet of the M87 black hole. Source: engadget.com

A team of scientists from the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) project has published a new image of the black hole M87, which is the most detailed to date. The image was created using an additional telescope in Greenland and data from 2018.

The first image of the M87 black hole was published in 2019. It was created using eight telescopes located at different points on Earth. The sophisticated imaging technique required synchronizing atomic clocks, using the Earth's rotation, and processing petabytes of data.

The second image was obtained using the ninth telescope located in Greenland. This significantly improved the image accuracy, especially in the north-south direction, Engadget writes.

The image shows the Doppler/Einstein effects that make the black hole appear brighter on one side. The biggest change, the scientists explain, is that the peak of brightness has shifted around the ring, even though general relativity says the size of the ring should remain fairly fixed.

This shift, according to scientists, may be due to the movement of gas and dust around the black hole.

The new image of the M87 black hole is an important step in understanding these supermassive objects. It helps us better understand how general relativity works and how black holes form and evolve.

Key findings:

  • The EHT team has published a new image of the black hole M87, which is the most detailed to date.
  • The image was created with the help of an additional telescope in Greenland and data from 2018.
  • The image demonstrates the Doppler/Einstein effects that make the black hole appear brighter on one side.
  • The biggest change, the scientists explain, is that the peak brightness has shifted around the ring, although general relativity says that the size of the ring should remain fairly fixed.

If you want to get the latest news about the war and events in Ukraine, subscribe to our Telegram channel!