First image of the black hole in the center of our galaxy

12. 05. 2022

Astronomers today revealed the very first image of a supermassive black hole in the center of the Milky Way galaxy. The black hole was imaged with Event Horizon Telescope, which connects telescopes from all over the world to create a huge one.

Sagittarius A*, EHT

The dark spot in the middle of this picture is the black hole's shadow. It is surrounded by a huge ring of material caught by its gravity. This matter is extremely hot and is being consumed by the black hole.

The EHT already took a picture of a supermassive black hole - in nearby galaxy M87. Both look similar, although the M87 black hole is about 1000 times bigger (and also further).