Imaging a Black Hole’s Shadow

Astrobeat
By Liz Kruesi
Apr 7, 2017 8:20 PMNov 20, 2019 2:34 AM
SGRA_VLAHSTCXC_large-1024x830.jpg

Newsletter

Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news
 

The center of our galaxy harbors a supermassive black hole and a tumultuous, active, high-energy environment. (Credit: NRAO/AUI/NSF; NASA Hubble, Chandra) As I write this, a conglomeration of radio telescopes scattered across Earth are acting as one giant instrument to try to image the supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy. It’s no easy feat. A black hole, by definition, is so dense and the gravitational pull so strong that not even light can escape its confines. So how can an object that can’t emit light and that doesn’t reflect light be observed? By looking for its shadow, and that’s exactly what the so-called Event Horizon Telescope is doing.

0 free articles left
Want More? Get unlimited access for as low as $1.99/month

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

0 free articlesSubscribe
Discover Magazine Logo
Want more?

Keep reading for as low as $1.99!

Subscribe

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

Stay Curious

Sign up for our weekly newsletter and unlock one more article for free.

 

View our Privacy Policy


Want more?
Keep reading for as low as $1.99!


Log In or Register

Already a subscriber?
Find my Subscription

More From Discover
Recommendations From Our Store
Stay Curious
Join
Our List

Sign up for our weekly science updates.

 
Subscribe
To The Magazine

Save up to 40% off the cover price when you subscribe to Discover magazine.

Copyright © 2024 Kalmbach Media Co.