Astronomers reveal 1st image of black hole at center of Milky Way

WASHINGTON:Astronomers on Thursday unveiled the first image of the "supermassive black hole" at the center of the Milky Way galaxy.

"This result provides overwhelming evidence that the object is indeed a black hole and yields valuable clues about the workings of such giants, which are thought to reside at the center of most galaxies," said the scientists in a release at the headquarters of the European Southern Observatory in Garching, Germany.

The image of the black hole, named Sagittarius A*, or (Sgr A*), was captured by a global research team using the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), a global array of radio telescopes from Europe to Antarctica to Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean.

"Although we cannot see the black hole itself, because it is completely dark, glowing gas around it reveals a telltale signature: a dark central region (called a “shadow”) surrounded by a bright ring-like structure," said the statement.

"The new view captures light bent by the powerful gravity of the black hole, which is four million times more massive than our Sun," it added.

The breakthrough comes after the EHT team's 2019 release of the first-ever image of a black hole, called M87*, at the center of the distant Messier 87 galaxy.

Related Science & Tech News

International Satellite to Track Impacts of Small Ocean Currents

(FMNews) -The Surface Water and Ocean Topography mission will explore how the ocean absorbs atmospheric heat and carbon, moderating global temperatures and climate change. Though climate change is driving sea level rise over time, researchers also believe that differences in surface height fr....

NASA Mission Finds Tonga Volcanic Eruption Effects Reached Space

(FMNews) -When the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha‘apai volcano erupted on Jan. 15, 2022, it sent atmospheric shock waves, sonic booms, and tsunami waves around the world. Now, scientists are finding the volcano’s effects also reached space. Analyzing data from NASA’s Ionospheric ....

NASA to Provide Update on InSight Mars Lander

(FMNews) -NASA will hold a media teleconference at 2 p.m. EDT (11 a.m. PDT) on Tuesday, May 17, to provide an update on the agency’s InSight Mars lander. NASA leadership and mission team members will highlight InSight’s science accomplishments, share details on the spacecraft&rsquo....

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh says, future belongs to technology-driven economy

(FMNews) -Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ministry of Earth Sciences, Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ministry of Science and Technology, MoS PMO and Minister of State Ministry of Personnel and Public Grievances Dr Jitendra Singh today said, future belongs to technology-dri....

India is committed to ensuring accessibility and affordability of vaccines for all : Dr Jitendra Singh

(FMNews) -Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology; Minister of State (Independent Charge) Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said, India is committed to ensuring accessibility and affordabili....