First actual image of a black hole released

[Deane Clark]

https://www.npr.org/2019/04/10/71172338 ... black-hole

Contrary to my expectations, this is of the supermassive black hole at the center of M87, rather than the Milky Way’s Sagittarius A* (that should come soon, hopefully.) Also of note, they had to increase the estimate of its size from maybe 2-3 billion solar masses, to about 6.5 billion solar masses!

Here is a video that does a good job of explaining the ring of light we see around the black hole:
https://youtu.be/zUyH3XhpLTo

[StefanPW]

At first, it might seem odd that it's easier to see a black hole in another galaxy, about 2,000 times further away from our own supermassive black hole, and therefore ~4 million times dimmer... but here's the catch!

A black hole's event horizon radius is LINEARLY proportional to its mass, which means that, if the 6.5 billion estimate is correct, M87's central black hole is ~1,600 times wider than Sagittarius A*
M87's black hole is thus about 19 billion km in radius: ~130 AU, vs Sag A*'s ~0.08 AU.

M87's Blackhole is also rather active (as evidenced by its jet), while ours only flares occasionally.
Still, the angular size of the event horizon would be ~0.000016"

[StefanPW]

Looks like they also captured an image of Sag A*, but it wasn't as widely published https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... k_hole.png

[SEmert]

https://www.npr.org/2019/04/10/71172338 ... black-hole

Contrary to my expectations, this is of the supermassive black hole at the center of M87, rather than the Milky Way’s Sagittarius A* (that should come soon, hopefully.) Also of note, they had to increase the estimate of its size from maybe 2-3 billion solar masses, to about 6.5 billion solar masses!

Here is a video that does a good job of explaining the ring of light we see around the black hole:
https://youtu.be/zUyH3XhpLTo

Veritasium soon followed up with a video showing the actual images of both the M87 supermassive black hole and the Milky Way's SgrA* supermassive black hole.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_GVbuddri8
He also illustrated the method of using multiple telescopes to get the necessary angular resolution. Way cool to say the least!

[tugger]

https://www.npr.org/2019/04/10/71172338 ... black-hole

Contrary to my expectations, this is of the supermassive black hole at the center of M87, rather than the Milky Way’s Sagittarius A* (that should come soon, hopefully.) Also of note, they had to increase the estimate of its size from maybe 2-3 billion solar masses, to about 6.5 billion solar masses!

Here is a video that does a good job of explaining the ring of light we see around the black hole:
https://youtu.be/zUyH3XhpLTo

It's pretty sweet. I hope everyone appreciates the gravity of the news!

[Dick Jacobson]

The immediate surroundings of the black hole, outside the event horizon, strange as they are, are becoming familiar. What still blows my mind is thinking about the interior. I think it's incorrect when people talk about "infinite density". If you insist on sticking with 3-dimensional space, the density may increase without limit but there is never a moment when it makes the leap to infinity. Of course the physics is probably so strange and beyond our everyday intuition that 3-dimensional space and 1-dimensional time are useless in describing it. Will physicists ever agree on a theory that describes black holes to everyone's satisfaction (string theory? loop quantum gravity?)

[heinerv]

Here's a you tube video of Katie Bouman explaining how the data processing worked. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7n2rYt9wfU

[Bsting]

Last night attended a lecture by the UofAz team that was involved with the image.
They were involved with the MMT and South Pole part of the imaging as well as the software involved with the number crunching.
Each of the members got up and discussed their part in the event along with photos of the sites they were involved it.
Afterwards got a chance to chat with one of the members; Professor Ozel (see my selfie) who turned out of have attended the same high school as my cousin and where my Aunt and Uncle had been teachers of English years ago.
.

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[Deane Clark]

Gravity issues in Tucson last night?