M87

The black hole of our Milky Way as seen in polarized light. Astronomers have for the first time been able to measure polarity, a hallmark of magnetic fields, so close to the rim of Sagittarius A*. The lines added to the image indicate the direction of polarization, which is related to the magnetic field around the shadow of the black hole. Credit: EHT Collaboration

Strong magnetic fields surround the Milky Way's central black hole

Scientists observing the compact radio core of M87 have discovered new details about the galaxy's supermassive black hole. In this artist's view, the black hole's massive jet appears to rise from the center of the black hole. The observations on which this figure is based represent the first time the jet and the black hole's shadow have been imaged together, providing scientists with new insights into how black holes can launch these powerful jets. Courtesy of ESO

For the first time a black hole was photographed together with the turbulent environment near it

In a recent paper published in the journal Nature, scientists analyzed new data from the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) to produce the most detailed image yet of the supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy M87
An illustration incorporating the black hole at the center of the M87 galaxy - the first imaged by astronomers. Illustration: shutterstock

Why is photographing the black hole such a special event?

Cosmic scene with DNA, stars, solvents and atomic circles in oral flow.

Project 365 - a marathon of galaxies in the Virgo cluster