A global array of radio observatories linked as a single Earth-sized virtual telescope that released the first image of the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A* on 12 May 2022, reconstructed from April 2017 observations, three years after producing the first-ever image of a black hole, M87*.
Facts
Observatory TypeVery long baseline interferometry network 1 LocationGlobal network of radio observatories 1 OperationalYear of the coordinated observing campaign that produced the first black hole image, published in 2019. MeasuresMeasures radio waves in the submillimeter range, most recently at a wavelength of 870 micrometers. 2 Operating PrincipleLinks multiple independent radio telescopes worldwide via very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI), synchronizing them to act as a single Earth-sized virtual telescope. 2 Cross-Tradition Connections
Sources
1. Encyclopedia Britannica: Space Exploration
Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc.
2. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationEvent Horizon Telescope, Telescope array section (wavelength)Quote, Event Horizon Telescope, Telescope array section (wavelength)
Since 2018 the EHT has been capable of imaging at a wavelength of 870 μm (345 GHz), giving an angular resolution of 19 μas
2. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationEvent Horizon Telescope, Telescope array section (VLBI)Quote, Event Horizon Telescope, Telescope array section (VLBI)
Through the technique of very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI), many independent radio antennas separated by hundreds or thousands of kilometres can act as a phased array
ESO - First Image of the Black Hole at the Heart of Our Galaxy (2022)
European Southern Observatory, European Southern ObservatoryMass and distance summaryQuote, Mass and distance summary
Sagittarius A* is four million times more massive than our Sun and located approximately 27,000 light-years from Earth.
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