GoKawiilEvent Horizon Telescope team describes how it imaged black holes M87 and Sagittarius A*
On a Quanta Magazine podcast, Harvard astrophysicist Shep Doeleman explains how he and roughly 250 researchers linked radio telescopes worldwide to form the Event Horizon Telescope, effectively turning Earth into a single giant instrument. That network produced the first-ever images of the supermassive black hole in galaxy M87, located about 55 million light-years away, and of Sagittarius A*, the black hole at the center of the Milky Way.
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Doeleman suggests the project's scale of global scientific collaboration was itself a major achievement, enabling observations once thought impossible given that black holes emit no light. He also indicates that continued development could allow researchers to produce actual moving footage of black holes by the early 2030s, which would let scientists test gravitational theory against dynamic, real-time data rather than static images alone.
- The Event Horizon Telescope links radio telescopes globally to function as one Earth-sized instrument.
- It produced the first images of M87's black hole and the Milky Way's Sagittarius A*.
- Doeleman says black hole 'movies' could be achievable by the early 2030s.
Celestron NexStar 8SE Telescope — While you can't capture a black hole from your backyard, this telescope lets you explore the same cosmic wonders that inspire projects like the Event Horizon Telescope. Its computerized mount makes locating galaxies and nebulae simple, turning curiosity about deep space into a hands-on hobby. A great way to feel connected to the universe's biggest mysteries.
See Celestron NexStar 8SE Telescope on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: quantamagazine.org — Janna Levin, 2026-10-30
Published there as: “How Do You Take a Picture of a Black Hole?”
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