New image of iconic black hole M87 unveiled(1/4)

A new image, showing the shadow (inset) and jet of elliptical galaxy Messier 87 is observed at a wavelength of 3.5 millimeters. (Photo provided to China News Service)

The new image of the supermassive black hole at the center of M87 features the accretion disk and the powerful jet of subatomic particles being ejected from the disk.

A major breakthrough occurred in 2017 when the Event Horizon Telescope, a virtual observatory consisting of telescopes spanning the planet operated via international collaboration, took the first image of the M87 supermassive black hole.

An artist’s illustration of the black hole at the heart of M87 spewing forth a massive jet. (Photo provided to China News Service)

Photo shows the diagram of the M87 black hole. (Photo provided to China News Service)

Sixteen telescope stations in different locations for the M87 black hole joint observation. (Photo provided to China News Service)