Which telescope provided the first direct image of a black hole?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
Correct Answer:
Event Horizon Telescope
Explanation:
The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) is a planetary-scale array of eight ground-based radio telescopes forged through international collaboration. It captured the first-ever direct image of a black hole—specifically, the supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy M87, unveiled to the public in April 2019, followed by an image of Sagittarius A* at the center of our Milky Way in 2022.
Key Points:
• The EHT links radio observatories around the world to create a virtual Earth-sized telescope with unprecedented angular resolution.
• The landmark 2019 image revealed the shadow of the black hole surrounded by a glowing ring of hot plasma bending under intense gravity.
• This monumental achievement provided further visual proof supporting Albert Einstein's General Theory of Relativity.
Important Questions and Answers:
Question: Which galaxy's supermassive black hole was featured in the first direct image released by the EHT in 2019?
Answer: M87 (Messier 87).
Question: What technique is used by the Event Horizon Telescope to achieve high-resolution imaging?
Answer: Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI).