What is the Event Horizon Telescope filming?

The Event Horizon Telescope is filming the supermassive black hole at the center of the Messier 87 galaxy.

Why is filming a black hole important?

Filming a black hole can reveal its rotation speed and how it launches jets, crucial for understanding galactic evolution.

When will the black hole movie be released?

The observations are happening in March and April, but processing the vast data means the movie's release will likely be later.

Home / Science / Black Hole Movie: Unveiling Cosmic Secrets

Black Hole Movie: Unveiling Cosmic Secrets

18 Jan

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Summary

Event Horizon Telescope to film M87's supermassive black hole.
Observations aim to reveal black hole rotation and jet launch.
First movie will accelerate scientific understanding significantly.

Black Hole Movie: Unveiling Cosmic Secrets

For the first time, astronomers are set to capture a movie of a supermassive black hole in action. The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) will observe the colossal black hole in galaxy Messier 87 throughout March and April, seeking to film the swirling disc around its event horizon.

This technologically challenging endeavor is expected to revolutionize scientific understanding, offering insights into the black hole's spin speed and its mechanisms for launching powerful jets. Scientists hope to move beyond the "cosmic villain" perception, viewing black holes as crucial to understanding galactic evolution.

The EHT, a global network of radio telescopes, previously produced the first image of a black hole's shadow in 2019. The M87 observations, requiring stitches of daily snapshots, will provide unprecedented data, though processing will likely take until the Antarctic summer for data transfer.