First black hole image
It wasn’t until 2019 that we got our first image of a black hole. That was the supermassive black hole at the center of galaxy M87. The Event Horizon Telescope also captured that image. So, in the image below, the ring of light you see is glowing gas swirling around the black hole, while the dark center is called the black hole’s shadow. You can’t see the black hole itself, of course, because light can’t escape.
M87’s supermassive black hole makes ours seem wimpy in comparison. The black hole at the core of M87 is 6.5 billion times more massive than our sun. Meanwhile, the Milky Way’s central black hole is a mere 4 million times more massive than our sun.
First black hole image in polarized light
Then, in 2021, astronomers – again with the help of the Event Horizon Telescope – were able to image the black hole in M87 in polarized light. Light gets polarized when it travels through hot regions where magnetic fields are present. So, the polarized image of the black hole’s region allows astronomers to map the magnetic field lines near the event horizon. And the magnetic field lines tell astronomers how black holes consume matter and launch powerful jets. The jet coming from M87 is the galaxy’s most distinctive feature.
First ever image of the Milky Way’s black hole
Finally, in 2022, we got our first view of the Milky Way’s supermassive black hole. Its appearance echoed that of the supermassive black hole around M87.
Bottom line: Scientists using the Event Horizon Telescope have imaged the polarized light from our Milky Way’s black hole for the first time. This light allows us to learn about the magnetic field lines around the black hole and suggest there could be a hidden jet.