Event Horizon Telescope

WATCH: Here’s the first image of the black hole at the center of our galaxy

By Seth Borenstein, Associated Press

Scientists have obtained the first image of a black hole, using Event Horizon Telescope observations of the center of the galaxy M87. The image shows a bright ring formed as light bends in the intense gravity around a black hole that is 6.5 billion times more massive than the Sun. This long-sought image provides the strongest evidence to date for the existence of supermassive black holes and opens a new window onto the study of black holes, their event horizons, and gravity. Photo by Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration

3 major moments from the ‘golden’ decade of black holes

Astrophysicists say we’re living in “a golden age of black holes.” To help illustrate why, here are three decade-defining advancements in the ongoing effort to unravel these cosmic wonders.

By Isabella Isaacs-Thomas

Imaging scientist Katie Bouman watching the first reconstructed image of a black hole emerge from the Event Horizon Telescope data. Image courtesy of Katie Bouman

Katie Bouman ‘hardly knew what a black hole was.’ Her algorithm helped us see one

Imaging scientist Katie Bouman chats with the PBS NewsHour about how she crafted an algorithm that constructed the first ever photo of a black hole.

By Vicky Stein

Here is the first photo of a black hole

On Wednesday, the Event Horizon Telescope released the first-ever image of a black hole, a historic moment shared by scientists spread around the world.

By Nsikan Akpan

This is not an actual image of a black hole. This artist’s impression shows the surroundings of a supermassive black hole, typical of that found at the heart of many galaxies. The black hole itself is surrounded by a brilliant accretion disc of very hot, infalling material and, further out, a dusty torus. There are also often high-speed jets of material ejected at the black hole’s poles that can extend huge distances into space. Illustration and caption by European Southern Observatory

WATCH: What does a black hole look like? Scientists reveal the first picture

The Event Horizon Telescope is expected to release the first image of a black hole on Wednesday. In preparation for what might be a momentous day, here’s what you need to know.

By Nsikan Akpan

An ‘Earth-sized’ telescope takes aim at the first-ever image of a black hole

By Joshua Barajas

For years, actual images of black holes have remained elusive. The Event Horizon Telescope might be changing that as you read these words.

How seeing a black hole’s shadow will tell us if Einstein was right

By Rebecca Jacobson, Inside Energy

Black holes are some of the most exotic objects in our universe. But how do you see something that, by definition, you can't see? The answer will take a telescope the size of the Earth.

This telescope is so extreme, the weak of heart need not apply

By Joshua Barajas and Rebecca Jacobson, Inside Energy

Deadly altitudes, breathtaking skies, treacherous roads, wild donkeys -- it's all part of working on the most sophisticated telescope in the world.

Support Provided By: Learn more

Educate your inbox

Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else.

Wednesday, May 31