Scientists Get Ready to Capture Mind-Bending Footage of Supermassive Black Hole
For the first time ever, astronomers are on the cusp of capturing a mesmerizing video of a supermassive black hole in action. This groundbreaking observation is set to revolutionize our understanding of these enigmatic cosmic objects and could help unlock some of the universe's biggest mysteries.
The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), a global network of 12 radio telescopes spanning locations from Antarctica to Spain and Korea, will track the colossal black hole at the center of Messier 87 galaxy over March and April. The goal is to capture footage of the swirling disc that outlines the event horizon – the point beyond which no light or matter can escape.
"This movie campaign is really revolutionary," says Sera Markoff, newly appointed Plumian professor of astronomy and experimental philosophy at Cambridge University. "It's not just because it's technologically extremely challenging, but because it will accelerate our science by an order of magnitude."
The black hole in question has a mass equivalent to 6 billion suns and spans an area equivalent to that of the solar system. Its slow rotation means that these snapshots can be stitched together into a moving sequence, providing unparalleled insight into its behavior.
Measuring the black hole's spin speed is crucial because it could help determine how these objects reached such enormous sizes. If they grow mostly through accretion – gradually accumulating material nearby – they would be expected to spin at incredibly high speeds. In contrast, if they expand mostly through merging with other black holes, each merger could slow them down.
The observations also aim to shed light on the formation of massive jets that channel vast columns of gas out of galaxies, slowing down star formation and limiting galaxy growth. These powerful structures can even alter the evolution of nearby galaxies.
While the movie campaign will take place in the spring, scientists won't be able to analyze the data until next year when it's physically shipped to Germany and the US for processing.
Markoff hopes that her appointment as Plumian professor will inspire more people from underrepresented backgrounds to pursue careers in science. Her own journey was unconventional, with a background in art school and an interest sparked by science fiction and comic books.
For the first time ever, astronomers are on the cusp of capturing a mesmerizing video of a supermassive black hole in action. This groundbreaking observation is set to revolutionize our understanding of these enigmatic cosmic objects and could help unlock some of the universe's biggest mysteries.
The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), a global network of 12 radio telescopes spanning locations from Antarctica to Spain and Korea, will track the colossal black hole at the center of Messier 87 galaxy over March and April. The goal is to capture footage of the swirling disc that outlines the event horizon – the point beyond which no light or matter can escape.
"This movie campaign is really revolutionary," says Sera Markoff, newly appointed Plumian professor of astronomy and experimental philosophy at Cambridge University. "It's not just because it's technologically extremely challenging, but because it will accelerate our science by an order of magnitude."
The black hole in question has a mass equivalent to 6 billion suns and spans an area equivalent to that of the solar system. Its slow rotation means that these snapshots can be stitched together into a moving sequence, providing unparalleled insight into its behavior.
Measuring the black hole's spin speed is crucial because it could help determine how these objects reached such enormous sizes. If they grow mostly through accretion – gradually accumulating material nearby – they would be expected to spin at incredibly high speeds. In contrast, if they expand mostly through merging with other black holes, each merger could slow them down.
The observations also aim to shed light on the formation of massive jets that channel vast columns of gas out of galaxies, slowing down star formation and limiting galaxy growth. These powerful structures can even alter the evolution of nearby galaxies.
While the movie campaign will take place in the spring, scientists won't be able to analyze the data until next year when it's physically shipped to Germany and the US for processing.
Markoff hopes that her appointment as Plumian professor will inspire more people from underrepresented backgrounds to pursue careers in science. Her own journey was unconventional, with a background in art school and an interest sparked by science fiction and comic books.
I'm so stoked about this upcoming footage of a supermassive black hole! It's mind-blowing to think that we'll finally get to see these cosmic monsters up close. I mean, can you even imagine the visuals? A swirling disc that marks the point of no return – it's like something straight out of sci-fi 
. This is a huge deal for our understanding of the universe and could lead to some major breakthroughs in cosmology. The fact that we'll be able to measure the black hole's spin speed and understand how they grew so massive is just incredible 
. And, who knows, maybe this will inspire a new generation of scientists, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds 
. Fingers crossed for March/April!
sucking everything in! Scientists are about to capture the first-ever video of this supermassive black hole's crazy dance 
. They're using 12 telescopes spread across the globe 
to track its movements and get some mind-blowing footage. The black hole is a ginormous 
️, with a mass equivalent to 6 billion suns! 
It's like trying to capture a giant cosmic train 
in motion... but instead of rails, it's navigating through space-time itself 
.
. How did they become so huge? 
Was it through slow and steady accretion or a series of epic mergers with other black holes? 
.
and pushing science forward. Scientists are working together, using cutting-edge tech 
, and following their curiosity 
scientists r like finally gettin ready 2 capture that crazy footage of supermassive black holes 
and the thought of those massive jets affectin galaxy evol is just mind-blowing 
i'm hyped for this movie campaign but also can we talk about how long it's gonna take 2 get the data processed and analyzed lol like next year or somethin? 
competing for resources. The supermassive black hole at the center of Messier 87 galaxy has a mass equivalent to 6 billion suns, that's like our current debt levels 
️. If it grows through accretion, we'll have an 'enormous' problem on our hands 
– slowing down progress & limiting growth.
. I'd say we need more scientists like her who think outside the box, just like how our scientists are pushing the boundaries of space exploration 
. And with the data being shipped to Germany & US for processing, it's like how international collaboration is key to solving global problems 
.
.
. My kid loves sci-fi too (who doesn't? 
), so this project is like a dream come true for me! Fingers crossed they get those amazing shots and we can learn even more about the cosmos 
, we need more ppl like her in STEM fields! Can't wait to see the movie campaign pics next year 
