🕷️ Crawler Inspector

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Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 8 (from laksa195)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa008.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.space.com/1st-black-hole-pictured-new-image-1-year-later\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.space.com/1st-black-hole-pictured-new-image-1-year-later\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.space.com\/1st-black-hole-pictured-new-image-1-year-later","crawl_time":1775563920,"first_indexed_time":1705662753,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,space!www,\/1st-black-hole-pictured-new-image-1-year-later s443","src_root_hash":"7770394665477845008","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"2nd image of the 1st black hole ever pictured confirms Einstein's theory of general relativity (photo) | Space","meta_descriptions":["A second image of the first black hole ever pictured by humanity, the supermassive black hole in M87, taken one year later shows its shadow persists just as Einstein predicted."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"A second image of M87* the first black hole seen by humanity as it appeared in April 2018.\n(Image credit: EHT Collaboration)\nThe second image of the first black hole ever to be pictured by humanity shows that its shadow persists a year on.\nThe newly released image of the supermassive\nblack hole\nat the heart of the galaxy Messier 87 (M87) was\ncaptured by the Event Horizon Telescope\n(EHT) on April 21, 2018, a year and 10 days after it was first pictured.\nJust like in the April 2017 image, this second picture of the supermassive black hole, known as M87*, shows a glowing golden ring representing matter swirling around the black hole being heated to extreme temperatures. Still at the heart of this ring is a dark shadow, as predicted by Einstein's 1915 theory of gravity, known as\ngeneral relativity\n.\n\"A fundamental requirement of science is to be able to reproduce results,\" Academia Sinica Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics associate research fellow Keiichi Asada\nsaid in a statement\n.  \"Confirmation of the ring in a completely new data set is a huge milestone for our collaboration and a strong indication that we are looking at a black hole shadow and the material orbiting around it.\"\nThe new image of this supermassive black hole confirms the accuracy of this theory of gravity, which predicts that M87*'s width should remain the same as long as its mass does not change significantly, thus confirming that the radius of a black hole is indeed connected to its mass. \nThe image also confirms that some changes in the brightness of the disk have occurred, which are connected to the turbulence in the matter around the black hole and being gradually fed to it. \nM87* in 2017 and 2018: What changed and what stayed the same\nLocated 55 million light-years from\nEarth\nat the heart of the\ngalaxy M87\n, the supermassive black hole M87* has a mass equivalent to around 6.5 billion suns.\nBreaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more!\nM87* powers the bright, active galactic nucleus (AGN) heart of the elliptical galaxy as it gradually feeds on surrounding matter, heating what it does not consume with powerful magnetic fields funneling material to its poles before blasting it out at nearly the speed of light.\nM87* made history when it was\nfirst imaged by the EHT on April 11, 2017\n. Further data analysis of the M87* EHT image showed how the light was polarized around the black hole, giving hints into the structure of jet-launching magnetic fields and the nature of the heated gas, or plasma, surrounding the supermassive black hole.\nThe 2017 and 2018 images of M87* are remarkably similar, with the bright rings around the supermassive black hole remaining the same size. \nThis is an important observation as it shows that because the mass of this supermassive black hole hasn't changed significantly, neither has the diameter of its outer layer, the light-trapping surface called the\nevent horizon\nwhich acts as the outer boundary of the black hole. This helps confirm the suggestion derived from general relativity that the diameter of a black hole is dependent on its mass.\n\"One of the remarkable properties of a black hole is that its radius is strongly dependent on only one quantity: Its mass,\" NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory scientist Nitika Yadlapalli Yurk said. \"Since M87* is not accreting material (which would increase its mass) at a rapid rate, general relativity tells us that its radius will remain fairly unchanged over human history. It's pretty exciting to see that our data confirm this prediction.\"\nScientists expect that the black hole M87* isn't accreting matter fast enough for its growth to become noticeable over the duration of a human lifetime, and this new image also helps confirm this is likely the case.\nSide-by-side comparisons of M87* in 2017 and 2018 show how the bright spot in the ring of matter around the black hole has shifted\n(Image credit: EHT Collaboration)\nHowever, that doesn't mean nothing has changed for M87* between its two EHT close-ups. In the new image, the brightest peak of the ring around the black hole has shifted by 30 degrees counterclockwise. This is something the EHT team was expecting to see and confirms the variability of the turbulent matter around the black hole.\n\"The biggest change that the brightness peak shifted around the ring is actually something we predicted when we published the first results in 2019,\" Academia Sinica Institute for Astronomy postdoctoral fellow Britt Jeter said. \"While general relativity says the ring size should stay pretty fixed, the emission from the turbulent, messy accretion disk around the black hole will cause the brightest part of the ring to wobble around a common center.\n\"The amount of wobble we see over time is something we can use to test our theories for the magnetic field and plasma environment around the black hole.\"\nWhat next for the supermassive black hole M87*?\nThe first image of M87* and the in-depth analysis of the data used to build it kickstarted a new era of black hole investigation and also gave scientists a new laboratory in which to test general relativity.\nThe next step in these investigations was collecting repeated observations of this supermassive black hole, with this new image representing the first use of data collected from M87* after 2017 by the EHT. \nThe EHT was given a helping hand to collect new and improved images of M87* in 2018 when, five months after its construction was completed in the Arctic Circle, the Greenland Telescope joined the other antennas in the array that comprise this Earth-sized telescope. This improved the image fidelity of the EHT and its coverage of the sky, especially directed from the north to the south. \nThe repeated observations of M87* have also allowed the EHT to be used to test cutting-edge developments in an astronomical technique called high-frequency radio interferometry and independent imaging and modeling techniques.\n\"The inclusion of the Greenland Telescope in our array filled critical gaps in our Earth-sized telescope,\" Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía PhD candidate Rohan Dahale said.  \"The inclusion of the Greenland Telescope in our array filled critical gaps in our Earth-sized telescope.\"\nRelated stories:\nThe EHT continued to monitor M87* after 2018, with further observations conducted in 2021 and 2022, and with the next observation of M87* by the EHT planned for the first half of this year. \nOne thing astronomers will be hoping to see in post-2018 observations is the jet of material emerging from M87*, something the EHT array wasn't advanced enough to see 6 years ago.\n\"The 2021, 2022, and the forthcoming 2024 observations witness improvements to the array, fueling our enthusiasm to push the frontiers of black hole astrophysics, Dahale concluded.\nThe team's research and the new images of M87* are published in the journal\nAstronomy & Astrophysics.\nShare your thoughts\n0\n0\n0\n0\nJoin the community\nJoin the Space.com Family! The best way to keep in touch and to be informed of our latest quizzes and competitions, as well as news and offers.\nAlready have an account?\nLog in\nLog In\nForgotten your password?\nReset it\nNot got an account?\nRegister\nMy Details\nUpdate your details below...\nKeep in the Know\nWould you like to be kept informed about new quizzes and offers from Future and its partners?\nValidate Your Mobile No.\nWe have sent a code to\n. Please enter it below to verify your account.\nUpdate mobile number\nResend code\nUpdate Your Mobile No.\nYou may enter a new mobile number below. You will be sent a verification code to the phone number you provide.\nCancel\nembed-reactions.hint_heading\nembed-reactions.hint_subheading\nValidate Your Email Address\nWe have sent a code to\n. Please enter it below to verify your account.\nUpdate email address\nResend code\nUpdate Your Email Address\nYou may enter a new email address below. You will be sent a verification code to the address you provide.\nCancel\nCreate a Username\nThis will be publicly viewable so make it something you like!\nReset your password\nEnter your email address below. If it is registered with us, we will email you a code that will allow you to reset your password.\nCheck your inbox\nIf your email address was found in our system, you should receive an email in the next few minutes containing a code. Enter that code below to reset your password.\nSet new password\nPlease enter your new password below.\nLeaderboard\nRank\nPlayer\nScore\nTime\nRobert Lea is a science journalist in the U.K. whose articles have been published in Physics World, New Scientist, Astronomy Magazine, All About Space, Newsweek and ZME Science. He also writes about science communication for Elsevier and the European Journal of Physics. Rob holds a bachelor of science degree in physics and astronomy from the U.K.’s Open University. Follow him on Twitter @sciencef1rst.","attrs_markdown":"![](https:\/\/sb.scorecardresearch.com\/p\/?c1=2&c2=10055482&cv=4.4.0&cj=1)\n\n[Skip to main content](https:\/\/www.space.com\/1st-black-hole-pictured-new-image-1-year-later#main)\n\nOpen menu\n\n[![Space](https:\/\/www.space.com\/media\/img\/spc-logo-w.svg) Space](https:\/\/www.space.com\/)\n\n[Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter](https:\/\/www.space.com\/newsletter)\n\n[RSS](https:\/\/www.space.com\/feeds.xml)\n\nSign in\n\n- View Profile\n- Sign out\n\nSearch\n\n- [Space Exploration](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration)\n  - [Launches & Spacecraft](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/launches-spacecraft)\n    - [Private spaceflight](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/private-spaceflight)\n    - [Human spaceflight](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/human-spaceflight)\n    - [SpaceX](https:\/\/www.space.com\/tag\/spacex)\n    - [Blue Origin](https:\/\/www.space.com\/tag\/blue-origin)\n    - [Virgin Galactic](https:\/\/www.space.com\/tag\/virgin-galactic)\n    - 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[Astronomy](https:\/\/www.space.com\/astronomy)\n2. [Black Holes](https:\/\/www.space.com\/astronomy\/black-holes)\n# 2nd image of 1st black hole ever pictured confirms Einstein's general relativity (photo)\n[News](https:\/\/www.space.com\/news)\n\nBy [Robert Lea](https:\/\/www.space.com\/author\/robert-lea)\n\npublished\n\nJanuary 19, 2024\n\nThe second image of the supermassive black hole in M87 was taken by the Event Horizon Telescope shows it still has a shadow just as Einstein predicted.\n\nWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. [Here’s how it works](https:\/\/www.space.com\/41418-about-us.html#section-affiliate-advertising-disclosure).\n\nClick for next article\n\n![A second image of M87\\* the first black hole seen by humanity as it appeared in April 2018](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RpE3BpstutZhCEhbwZegX.png)\n\nA second image of M87\\* the first black hole seen by humanity as it appeared in April 2018. (Image credit: EHT Collaboration)\n\nShare\n\n- Copy link\n- [Facebook](https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.space.com%2F1st-black-hole-pictured-new-image-1-year-later)\n- [X](https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=2nd+image+of+1st+black+hole+ever+pictured+confirms+Einstein%27s+general+relativity+%28photo%29&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.space.com%2F1st-black-hole-pictured-new-image-1-year-later)\n- [Whatsapp](whatsapp:\/\/send?text=2nd+image+of+1st+black+hole+ever+pictured+confirms+Einstein%27s+general+relativity+%28photo%29+https%3A%2F%2Fwww.space.com%2F1st-black-hole-pictured-new-image-1-year-later?fwa)\n- [Reddit](https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.space.com%2F1st-black-hole-pictured-new-image-1-year-later&title=2nd+image+of+1st+black+hole+ever+pictured+confirms+Einstein%27s+general+relativity+%28photo%29)\n- [Pinterest](https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.space.com%2F1st-black-hole-pictured-new-image-1-year-later&media=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net%2FRpE3BpstutZhCEhbwZegX.png)\n- [Flipboard](https:\/\/share.flipboard.com\/bookmarklet\/popout?title=2nd+image+of+1st+black+hole+ever+pictured+confirms+Einstein%27s+general+relativity+%28photo%29&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.space.com%2F1st-black-hole-pictured-new-image-1-year-later)\n- [Email](mailto:?subject=I%20found%20this%20webpage&body=Hi,%20I%20found%20this%20webpage%20and%20thought%20you%20might%20like%20it%20https:\/\/www.space.com\/1st-black-hole-pictured-new-image-1-year-later)\n\nShare this article\n\nJoin the conversation\n\n[Follow us](https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=space.com)\n\nAdd us as a preferred source on Google\n\nNewsletter\n\nGet the Space.com Newsletter\n\nBreaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more\\!\n\n***\nBy signing up, you agree to our [Terms of services](https:\\\/\\\/futureplc.com\\\/terms-conditions\\\/)  and acknowledge that you have read our [Privacy Notice](https:\\\/\\\/futureplc.com\\\/privacy-policy\\\/). 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Sign up for our skywatching newsletter and explore the universe with us\\!\n\nSubscribe +\n\n![Strange New Words](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Mk2LrCm68RFHzQhNyQaH2Y.jpg)\n\nTwice a month\n\nStrange New Words\n\nSpace.com's Sci-Fi Reader's Club. Read a sci-fi short story every month and join a virtual community of fellow science fiction fans\\!\n\nSubscribe +\n\n***\nAn account already exists for this email address, please log in.\n\nSubscribe to our newsletter\n\nThe second image of the first black hole ever to be pictured by humanity shows that its shadow persists a year on.\n\nThe newly released image of the supermassive [black hole](https:\/\/www.space.com\/15421-black-holes-facts-formation-discovery-sdcmp.html) at the heart of the galaxy Messier 87 (M87) was [captured by the Event Horizon Telescope](https:\/\/www.space.com\/milky-way-monster-black-hole-first-image-eht) (EHT) on April 21, 2018, a year and 10 days after it was first pictured.  \n   \n Just like in the April 2017 image, this second picture of the supermassive black hole, known as M87\\*, shows a glowing golden ring representing matter swirling around the black hole being heated to extreme temperatures. Still at the heart of this ring is a dark shadow, as predicted by Einstein's 1915 theory of gravity, known as [general relativity](https:\/\/www.space.com\/17661-theory-general-relativity.html).\n\n\"A fundamental requirement of science is to be able to reproduce results,\" Academia Sinica Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics associate research fellow Keiichi Asada [said in a statement](https:\/\/eventhorizontelescope.org\/M87-one-year-later-proof-of-a-persistent-black-hole-shadow). \"Confirmation of the ring in a completely new data set is a huge milestone for our collaboration and a strong indication that we are looking at a black hole shadow and the material orbiting around it.\"\n\nYou may like\n\n- [![M87\\* and its cosmic blowtorch-like jet as seen by the Hubble Space Telescope](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hpLw8QjLxtFpwGinGSiYF7.png) Astronomers watch 1st black hole ever imaged launch a 3,000‑light‑year‑long cosmic jet from its glowing 'shadow'](https:\/\/www.space.com\/astronomy\/black-holes\/astronomers-watch-1st-black-hole-ever-imaged-launch-a-3-000-light-year-long-cosmic-jet-from-its-glowing-shadow)\n- [![An illustration shows dark matter powering the heart of a spiral galaxy](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/69kRCSZKQ5H5nddwqCTGR3.png) Could the Milky Way galaxy's supermassive black hole actually be a clump of dark matter?](https:\/\/www.space.com\/astronomy\/dark-universe\/could-the-milky-way-galaxys-supermassive-black-hole-actually-be-a-clump-of-dark-matter)\n- [![(Main) An illustration of the supermassive black hole M87\\* (Inset) the NASA\/JAXA mission XRISM](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7m3KGMqKhwNrKVJp48qVvT.png) NASA X-ray spacecraft stares into the 'eye of the storm' swirling around supermassive black holes](https:\/\/www.space.com\/astronomy\/black-holes\/nasa-x-ray-spacecraft-stares-into-the-eye-of-the-storm-swirling-around-supermassive-black-holes)\n\n**Related:** [1st black hole ever imaged by humans has twisted magnetic fields and scientists are thrilled](https:\/\/www.space.com\/supermassive-black-hole-twisted-magnetic-fields-m87)\n\nThe new image of this supermassive black hole confirms the accuracy of this theory of gravity, which predicts that M87\\*'s width should remain the same as long as its mass does not change significantly, thus confirming that the radius of a black hole is indeed connected to its mass.\n\nThe image also confirms that some changes in the brightness of the disk have occurred, which are connected to the turbulence in the matter around the black hole and being gradually fed to it.\n\n## M87\\* in 2017 and 2018: What changed and what stayed the same\nLocated 55 million light-years from [Earth](https:\/\/www.space.com\/54-earth-history-composition-and-atmosphere.html) at the heart of the [galaxy M87](https:\/\/www.space.com\/m87-galaxy-first-3d-map-hubble-keck), the supermassive black hole M87\\* has a mass equivalent to around 6.5 billion suns.\n\nGet the Space.com Newsletter\n\nBreaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more\\!\n\nBy signing up, you agree to our [Terms of services](https:\\\/\\\/futureplc.com\\\/terms-conditions\\\/)  and acknowledge that you have read our [Privacy Notice](https:\\\/\\\/futureplc.com\\\/privacy-policy\\\/). You also agree to receive marketing emails from us that may include promotions from our trusted partners and sponsors, which you can unsubscribe from at any time.\n\nM87\\* powers the bright, active galactic nucleus (AGN) heart of the elliptical galaxy as it gradually feeds on surrounding matter, heating what it does not consume with powerful magnetic fields funneling material to its poles before blasting it out at nearly the speed of light.\n\nM87\\* made history when it was [first imaged by the EHT on April 11, 2017](https:\/\/www.space.com\/first-black-hole-photo-by-event-horizon-telescope.html). Further data analysis of the M87\\* EHT image showed how the light was polarized around the black hole, giving hints into the structure of jet-launching magnetic fields and the nature of the heated gas, or plasma, surrounding the supermassive black hole.\n\nThe 2017 and 2018 images of M87\\* are remarkably similar, with the bright rings around the supermassive black hole remaining the same size.\n\nWhat to read next\n\n- [![Screenshot from a new NASA animation highlighting some of the universe\\&\\#039;s biggest black holes, including the record-holding TON 618, which is about as massive as 60 billion suns.](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LonKAe8kapjmivFoVTBLRX.jpeg) James Webb Space Telescope reveals new origin story for the universe's 1st supermassive black holes](https:\/\/www.space.com\/astronomy\/james-webb-space-telescope\/james-webb-space-telescope-data-backs-new-origin-story-for-the-universes-1st-supermassive-black-holes)\n- [![Images of the twisted jet of matter OJ287 erupting from a distant black hole as seen by the EHT](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tgMzuuacJWYAtq6kqNFh8J.png) Astronomers watch 2 supermassive black holes caught in a twisted dance with never-before-seen jet behavior](https:\/\/www.space.com\/astronomy\/black-holes\/astronomers-watch-2-supermassive-black-holes-caught-in-a-twisted-dance-with-never-before-seen-jet-behavior)\n- [![a dense cluster of bright dots of light on a black background](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/i9LaBjFVPGL37PKBwu7VwA.jpg) The 'invisible giant' at the heart of our galaxy \\| Space photo of the day for March 11, 2026](https:\/\/www.space.com\/astronomy\/stars\/the-invisible-giant-at-the-heart-of-our-galaxy-space-photo-of-the-day-for-march-11-2026)\n\nThis is an important observation as it shows that because the mass of this supermassive black hole hasn't changed significantly, neither has the diameter of its outer layer, the light-trapping surface called the [event horizon](https:\/\/www.space.com\/black-holes-event-horizon-explained.html) which acts as the outer boundary of the black hole. This helps confirm the suggestion derived from general relativity that the diameter of a black hole is dependent on its mass.\n\n\"One of the remarkable properties of a black hole is that its radius is strongly dependent on only one quantity: Its mass,\" NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory scientist Nitika Yadlapalli Yurk said. \"Since M87\\* is not accreting material (which would increase its mass) at a rapid rate, general relativity tells us that its radius will remain fairly unchanged over human history. It's pretty exciting to see that our data confirm this prediction.\"  \n   \n Scientists expect that the black hole M87\\* isn't accreting matter fast enough for its growth to become noticeable over the duration of a human lifetime, and this new image also helps confirm this is likely the case.\n\n![side-by-side comparisons of M87\\* in 2017 and 2018 show how the bright spot in the ring of matter around the black hole has shifted](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BbA7cyBUHjxA2tbi88o6Qb.png)\n\nSide-by-side comparisons of M87\\* in 2017 and 2018 show how the bright spot in the ring of matter around the black hole has shifted (Image credit: EHT Collaboration)\n\nHowever, that doesn't mean nothing has changed for M87\\* between its two EHT close-ups. In the new image, the brightest peak of the ring around the black hole has shifted by 30 degrees counterclockwise. This is something the EHT team was expecting to see and confirms the variability of the turbulent matter around the black hole.\n\n\"The biggest change that the brightness peak shifted around the ring is actually something we predicted when we published the first results in 2019,\" Academia Sinica Institute for Astronomy postdoctoral fellow Britt Jeter said. \"While general relativity says the ring size should stay pretty fixed, the emission from the turbulent, messy accretion disk around the black hole will cause the brightest part of the ring to wobble around a common center.  \n   \n \"The amount of wobble we see over time is something we can use to test our theories for the magnetic field and plasma environment around the black hole.\"\n\n## What next for the supermassive black hole M87\\*?\nThe first image of M87\\* and the in-depth analysis of the data used to build it kickstarted a new era of black hole investigation and also gave scientists a new laboratory in which to test general relativity.  \n   \n The next step in these investigations was collecting repeated observations of this supermassive black hole, with this new image representing the first use of data collected from M87\\* after 2017 by the EHT.\n\nThe EHT was given a helping hand to collect new and improved images of M87\\* in 2018 when, five months after its construction was completed in the Arctic Circle, the Greenland Telescope joined the other antennas in the array that comprise this Earth-sized telescope. This improved the image fidelity of the EHT and its coverage of the sky, especially directed from the north to the south.\n\nThe repeated observations of M87\\* have also allowed the EHT to be used to test cutting-edge developments in an astronomical technique called high-frequency radio interferometry and independent imaging and modeling techniques.\n\n\"The inclusion of the Greenland Telescope in our array filled critical gaps in our Earth-sized telescope,\" Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía PhD candidate Rohan Dahale said. \"The inclusion of the Greenland Telescope in our array filled critical gaps in our Earth-sized telescope.\"\n\nRelated stories:\n\n— [This supermassive black hole is the most distant ever seen in X-rays](https:\/\/www.space.com\/supermassive-black-hole-most-distant-x-rays-discovery)\n\n— [Astronomers snap 1st-ever direct image of a black hole blasting out a powerful jet (photo, video)](https:\/\/www.space.com\/black-hole-jet-first-direct-image-m87)\n\n— [James Webb Space Telescope discovers oldest and most distant black hole ever seen](https:\/\/www.space.com\/james-webb-space-telescope-oldest-black-hole)\n\nThe EHT continued to monitor M87\\* after 2018, with further observations conducted in 2021 and 2022, and with the next observation of M87\\* by the EHT planned for the first half of this year.\n\nOne thing astronomers will be hoping to see in post-2018 observations is the jet of material emerging from M87\\*, something the EHT array wasn't advanced enough to see 6 years ago.\n\n\"The 2021, 2022, and the forthcoming 2024 observations witness improvements to the array, fueling our enthusiasm to push the frontiers of black hole astrophysics, Dahale concluded.\n\nThe team's research and the new images of M87\\* are published in the journal [Astronomy & Astrophysics.](https:\/\/www.aanda.org\/articles\/aa\/abs\/2024\/01\/aa47932-23\/aa47932-23.html)\n\n**Share your thoughts**\n\n0\n\n0\n\n0\n\n0\n\nRandom QuizPlay a Random Quiz\n\nFilter by Category\n\nJoin the community\n\nJoin the Space.com Family! 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Enter that code below to reset your password.\n\nSet new password\n\nPlease enter your new password below.\n\nLeaderboard\n\n| Rank | Player | Score | Time |\n|---|---|---|---|\n\nLog In or Register\n\nMore Quizzes\n\nLog Out\n\n![Robert Lea](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/FrPVWMGMDcv5rjJzExQQ4f.jpg)\n\n[Robert Lea](https:\/\/www.space.com\/author\/robert-lea)\n\nSocial Links Navigation\n\nSenior Writer\n\nRobert Lea is a science journalist in the U.K. whose articles have been published in Physics World, New Scientist, Astronomy Magazine, All About Space, Newsweek and ZME Science. He also writes about science communication for Elsevier and the European Journal of Physics. Rob holds a bachelor of science degree in physics and astronomy from the U.K.’s Open University. Follow him on Twitter @sciencef1rst.\n\nRead more\n\n[![M87\\* and its cosmic blowtorch-like jet as seen by the Hubble Space Telescope](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hpLw8QjLxtFpwGinGSiYF7.png) Black Holes Astronomers watch 1st black hole ever imaged launch a 3,000‑light‑year‑long cosmic jet from its glowing 'shadow'](https:\/\/www.space.com\/astronomy\/black-holes\/astronomers-watch-1st-black-hole-ever-imaged-launch-a-3-000-light-year-long-cosmic-jet-from-its-glowing-shadow \"Astronomers watch 1st black hole ever imaged launch a 3,000‑light‑year‑long cosmic jet from its glowing 'shadow'\")\n\n[![An illustration shows dark matter powering the heart of a spiral galaxy](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/69kRCSZKQ5H5nddwqCTGR3.png) Dark Universe Could the Milky Way galaxy's supermassive black hole actually be a clump of dark matter?](https:\/\/www.space.com\/astronomy\/dark-universe\/could-the-milky-way-galaxys-supermassive-black-hole-actually-be-a-clump-of-dark-matter \"Could the Milky Way galaxy's supermassive black hole actually be a clump of dark matter?\")\n\n[![(Main) An illustration of the supermassive black hole M87\\* (Inset) the NASA\/JAXA mission XRISM](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7m3KGMqKhwNrKVJp48qVvT.png) Black Holes NASA X-ray spacecraft stares into the 'eye of the storm' swirling around supermassive black holes](https:\/\/www.space.com\/astronomy\/black-holes\/nasa-x-ray-spacecraft-stares-into-the-eye-of-the-storm-swirling-around-supermassive-black-holes \"NASA X-ray spacecraft stares into the 'eye of the storm' swirling around supermassive black holes\")\n\n[![Screenshot from a new NASA animation highlighting some of the universe\\&\\#039;s biggest black holes, including the record-holding TON 618, which is about as massive as 60 billion suns.](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/LonKAe8kapjmivFoVTBLRX.jpeg) James Webb Space Telescope James Webb Space Telescope reveals new origin story for the universe's 1st supermassive black holes](https:\/\/www.space.com\/astronomy\/james-webb-space-telescope\/james-webb-space-telescope-data-backs-new-origin-story-for-the-universes-1st-supermassive-black-holes \"James Webb Space Telescope reveals new origin story for the universe's 1st supermassive black holes\")\n\n[![Images of the twisted jet of matter OJ287 erupting from a distant black hole as seen by the EHT](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tgMzuuacJWYAtq6kqNFh8J.png) Black Holes Astronomers watch 2 supermassive black holes caught in a twisted dance with never-before-seen jet behavior](https:\/\/www.space.com\/astronomy\/black-holes\/astronomers-watch-2-supermassive-black-holes-caught-in-a-twisted-dance-with-never-before-seen-jet-behavior \"Astronomers watch 2 supermassive black holes caught in a twisted dance with never-before-seen jet behavior\")\n\n[![a dense cluster of bright dots of light on a black background](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/i9LaBjFVPGL37PKBwu7VwA.jpg) Stars The 'invisible giant' at the heart of our galaxy \\| Space photo of the day for March 11, 2026](https:\/\/www.space.com\/astronomy\/stars\/the-invisible-giant-at-the-heart-of-our-galaxy-space-photo-of-the-day-for-march-11-2026 \"The 'invisible giant' at the heart of our galaxy | Space photo of the day for March 11, 2026\")\n\nLatest in Black Holes\n\n[![A black circle in the center of the illustration surrounded by swirling glowing patterns spiraling outward from it. The left side is colored red while the right side is colored purple.](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/JjhmXS8mFkbE5qXSnb8ggA.png) Black Holes Could our universe exist because black holes ate up all the antimatter?](https:\/\/www.space.com\/astronomy\/black-holes\/could-our-universe-exist-because-black-holes-ate-up-all-the-antimatter \"Could our universe exist because black holes ate up all the antimatter?\")\n\n[![An illustration of the supermassive black hole IRAS 05189-2524 which the XRISM spacecraft watched spring back to life](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/EfPEznfetDrGHyxBc9hwwQ.png) Black Holes X-ray spacecraft watches monster black hole wake up and fire cosmic bullets at starburst galaxy](https:\/\/www.space.com\/astronomy\/black-holes\/x-ray-spacecraft-watches-monster-black-hole-wake-up-and-fire-cosmic-bullets-at-starburst-galaxy \"X-ray spacecraft watches monster black hole wake up and fire cosmic bullets at starburst galaxy\")\n\n[![ Illustration of an eccentric neutron star–black hole binary. The neutron star’s path is shown in blue and the black hole’s motion in orange as the two objects orbit each other.](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/EmaYyXsYbtCknzr4JwN2JD.png) Black Holes Black hole and neutron star mergers push the laws of physics with their odd orbits](https:\/\/www.space.com\/astronomy\/black-holes\/black-hole-and-neutron-star-mergers-push-the-laws-of-physics-with-their-odd-orbits \"Black hole and neutron star mergers push the laws of physics with their odd orbits\")\n\n[![An illustration of colliding black holes setting the fabric of space ringing with gravitational waves.](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AU4KyD58keEkWydH4ooKJh.png) Black Holes The universe is humming with ripples in spacetime: Scientists just doubled our catalog of black hole and neutron star collisions](https:\/\/www.space.com\/astronomy\/black-holes\/the-universe-is-humming-with-ripples-in-spacetime-scientists-just-doubled-our-catalog-of-black-hole-and-neutron-star-collisions \"The universe is humming with ripples in spacetime: Scientists just doubled our catalog of black hole and neutron star collisions\")\n\n[![An image showing blobs of yellow and purple light with insets of illustrations showing what these blobs could represent.](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BdHb23dnDCzfjWzeVfdgyC.png) Black Holes Black holes! Supernovas! Merging galaxies! Oh my! Largest radio survey of the cosmos ever reveals 13.7 million powerful cosmic objects and events](https:\/\/www.space.com\/astronomy\/black-holes\/black-holes-supernovas-merging-galaxies-oh-my-largest-radio-survey-of-the-cosmos-ever-reveals-13-7-million-powerful-cosmic-objects-and-events \"Black holes! Supernovas! Merging galaxies! Oh my! Largest radio survey of the cosmos ever reveals 13.7 million powerful cosmic objects and events\")\n\n[![An illustration of two black circles in the center of the screen separated by a red dot. There\\&\\#039;s a glowing blue circle around both black circles and a red semi-circle at the bottom.](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VAGT8xLGFWzj5UeRpR7pEe.png) Black Holes Starlight warped in the fabric of spacetime could help us find hidden black holes dancing together](https:\/\/www.space.com\/astronomy\/black-holes\/starlight-warped-in-the-fabric-of-spacetime-could-help-us-find-hidden-black-holes-dancing-together \"Starlight warped in the fabric of spacetime could help us find hidden black holes dancing together\")\n\nLatest in News\n\n[![NASA shared this photo of Earth, snapped by Artemis 2 astronaut Reid Wiseman, on April 3, 2026.](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7PS9bNhQw2J8qAxRBb7SpZ.jpg) Artemis It's official: NASA's Artemis 2 moon mission will break humanity's all-time distance record](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/artemis\/its-official-nasas-artemis-2-moon-mission-will-break-humanitys-all-time-distance-record \"It's official: NASA's Artemis 2 moon mission will break humanity's all-time distance record\")\n\n[![The ISS cupola window with an artemis patch in the center section of the window. Earth is seen behind.](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/e97z2jNmJcVJQdudZU5iJE.jpg) Missions Astronauts on the ISS watched NASA's historic Artemis 2 launch from space](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/missions\/astronauts-on-the-iss-watched-nasas-historic-artemis-2-launch-from-space \"Astronauts on the ISS watched NASA's historic Artemis 2 launch from space\")\n\n[![a picture of a blue and white planet on a black background](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/uRtPopjWjLXMH2AAEeiMqi.jpg) Artemis Artemis 2 astronauts see Earth in the rear-view mirror \\| Space photo of the day for April 3, 2026](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/artemis\/artemis-2-astronauts-see-earth-in-the-rear-view-mirror-space-photo-of-the-day-for-april-3-2026 \"Artemis 2 astronauts see Earth in the rear-view mirror | Space photo of the day for April 3, 2026\")\n\n[![a NASA astronaut on the moon beside the American flag](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nJphYzY8HF76Ee7eBRWGx6.png) Artemis Artemis 2 astronauts are now headed to the moon. Why has it taken humanity so long to go back?](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/artemis\/artemis-2-astronauts-are-now-headed-for-the-moon-why-has-it-taken-humanity-so-long-to-go-back \"Artemis 2 astronauts are now headed to the moon. Why has it taken humanity so long to go back?\")\n\n[![Artemis 2 crew members Jeremy Hansen, Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, and Victor Glover answer questions from reporters during the first downlink event of their mission.](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/c4DioENXiMcBci8ZZkDtYT.jpg) Artemis NASA's Artemis 2 astronauts are cruising to the moon. So why are they doing CPR tests today?](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/artemis\/nasas-artemis-2-astronauts-are-cruising-to-the-moon-so-why-are-they-doing-cpr-tests-today \"NASA's Artemis 2 astronauts are cruising to the moon. So why are they doing CPR tests today?\")\n\n[![A rocket that\\&\\#039;s orange against the blue background of the sky is launching.](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/KCbhgTVgUzGDRN2NLseUk7.jpg) Missions Lucky airplane passengers capture NASA's Artemis 2 moon launch from the sky](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/missions\/lucky-airplane-passengers-capture-nasas-artemis-2-moon-launch-from-the-sky \"Lucky airplane passengers capture NASA's Artemis 2 moon launch from the sky\")\n\nMORE FROM SPACE...\n\n1. [![a NASA astronaut on the moon beside the American flag](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nJphYzY8HF76Ee7eBRWGx6.png)](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/artemis\/artemis-2-astronauts-are-now-headed-for-the-moon-why-has-it-taken-humanity-so-long-to-go-back \"Artemis 2 astronauts are now headed to the moon. Why has it taken humanity so long to go back?\")\n   \n   1\n   \n   [Artemis 2 astronauts are now headed to the moon. Why has it taken humanity so long to go back?](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/artemis\/artemis-2-astronauts-are-now-headed-for-the-moon-why-has-it-taken-humanity-so-long-to-go-back)\n2. 2\n   \n   [It's official: NASA's Artemis 2 moon mission will break humanity's all-time distance record](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/artemis\/its-official-nasas-artemis-2-moon-mission-will-break-humanitys-all-time-distance-record)\n3. 3\n   \n   [Astronauts on the ISS watched NASA's historic Artemis 2 launch from space](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/missions\/astronauts-on-the-iss-watched-nasas-historic-artemis-2-launch-from-space)\n4. 4\n   \n   [Venus shines at its best in spring and summer 2026 — here's what to look for](https:\/\/www.space.com\/stargazing\/venus-shines-at-its-best-in-spring-and-summer-2026-heres-what-to-look-for)\n5. 5\n   \n   [1st results from Blue Ghost lunar lander reveal how much we still don't know about the moon](https:\/\/www.space.com\/space-exploration\/launches-spacecraft\/blue-ghost-lunar-lander-reveals-how-much-we-still-dont-know-about-the-moon)\n\nSpace is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. 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Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.\n\nClose\n\nPlease login or signup to comment\n\nPlease wait...\n\nLogin\n\nSign Up","attrs_readable_markdown":"![A second image of M87\\* the first black hole seen by humanity as it appeared in April 2018](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RpE3BpstutZhCEhbwZegX.png)\n\nA second image of M87\\* the first black hole seen by humanity as it appeared in April 2018. (Image credit: EHT Collaboration)\n\nThe second image of the first black hole ever to be pictured by humanity shows that its shadow persists a year on.\n\nThe newly released image of the supermassive [black hole](https:\/\/www.space.com\/15421-black-holes-facts-formation-discovery-sdcmp.html) at the heart of the galaxy Messier 87 (M87) was [captured by the Event Horizon Telescope](https:\/\/www.space.com\/milky-way-monster-black-hole-first-image-eht) (EHT) on April 21, 2018, a year and 10 days after it was first pictured.\n\nJust like in the April 2017 image, this second picture of the supermassive black hole, known as M87\\*, shows a glowing golden ring representing matter swirling around the black hole being heated to extreme temperatures. Still at the heart of this ring is a dark shadow, as predicted by Einstein's 1915 theory of gravity, known as [general relativity](https:\/\/www.space.com\/17661-theory-general-relativity.html).\n\n\"A fundamental requirement of science is to be able to reproduce results,\" Academia Sinica Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics associate research fellow Keiichi Asada [said in a statement](https:\/\/eventhorizontelescope.org\/M87-one-year-later-proof-of-a-persistent-black-hole-shadow). \"Confirmation of the ring in a completely new data set is a huge milestone for our collaboration and a strong indication that we are looking at a black hole shadow and the material orbiting around it.\"\n\nThe new image of this supermassive black hole confirms the accuracy of this theory of gravity, which predicts that M87\\*'s width should remain the same as long as its mass does not change significantly, thus confirming that the radius of a black hole is indeed connected to its mass.\n\nThe image also confirms that some changes in the brightness of the disk have occurred, which are connected to the turbulence in the matter around the black hole and being gradually fed to it.\n\n## M87\\* in 2017 and 2018: What changed and what stayed the same\nLocated 55 million light-years from [Earth](https:\/\/www.space.com\/54-earth-history-composition-and-atmosphere.html) at the heart of the [galaxy M87](https:\/\/www.space.com\/m87-galaxy-first-3d-map-hubble-keck), the supermassive black hole M87\\* has a mass equivalent to around 6.5 billion suns.\n\nBreaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more\\!\n\nM87\\* powers the bright, active galactic nucleus (AGN) heart of the elliptical galaxy as it gradually feeds on surrounding matter, heating what it does not consume with powerful magnetic fields funneling material to its poles before blasting it out at nearly the speed of light.\n\nM87\\* made history when it was [first imaged by the EHT on April 11, 2017](https:\/\/www.space.com\/first-black-hole-photo-by-event-horizon-telescope.html). Further data analysis of the M87\\* EHT image showed how the light was polarized around the black hole, giving hints into the structure of jet-launching magnetic fields and the nature of the heated gas, or plasma, surrounding the supermassive black hole.\n\nThe 2017 and 2018 images of M87\\* are remarkably similar, with the bright rings around the supermassive black hole remaining the same size.\n\nThis is an important observation as it shows that because the mass of this supermassive black hole hasn't changed significantly, neither has the diameter of its outer layer, the light-trapping surface called the [event horizon](https:\/\/www.space.com\/black-holes-event-horizon-explained.html) which acts as the outer boundary of the black hole. This helps confirm the suggestion derived from general relativity that the diameter of a black hole is dependent on its mass.\n\n\"One of the remarkable properties of a black hole is that its radius is strongly dependent on only one quantity: Its mass,\" NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory scientist Nitika Yadlapalli Yurk said. \"Since M87\\* is not accreting material (which would increase its mass) at a rapid rate, general relativity tells us that its radius will remain fairly unchanged over human history. It's pretty exciting to see that our data confirm this prediction.\"\n\nScientists expect that the black hole M87\\* isn't accreting matter fast enough for its growth to become noticeable over the duration of a human lifetime, and this new image also helps confirm this is likely the case.\n\n![side-by-side comparisons of M87\\* in 2017 and 2018 show how the bright spot in the ring of matter around the black hole has shifted](https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/BbA7cyBUHjxA2tbi88o6Qb.png)\n\nSide-by-side comparisons of M87\\* in 2017 and 2018 show how the bright spot in the ring of matter around the black hole has shifted (Image credit: EHT Collaboration)\n\nHowever, that doesn't mean nothing has changed for M87\\* between its two EHT close-ups. In the new image, the brightest peak of the ring around the black hole has shifted by 30 degrees counterclockwise. This is something the EHT team was expecting to see and confirms the variability of the turbulent matter around the black hole.\n\n\"The biggest change that the brightness peak shifted around the ring is actually something we predicted when we published the first results in 2019,\" Academia Sinica Institute for Astronomy postdoctoral fellow Britt Jeter said. \"While general relativity says the ring size should stay pretty fixed, the emission from the turbulent, messy accretion disk around the black hole will cause the brightest part of the ring to wobble around a common center.\n\n\"The amount of wobble we see over time is something we can use to test our theories for the magnetic field and plasma environment around the black hole.\"\n## What next for the supermassive black hole M87\\*?\nThe first image of M87\\* and the in-depth analysis of the data used to build it kickstarted a new era of black hole investigation and also gave scientists a new laboratory in which to test general relativity.\n\nThe next step in these investigations was collecting repeated observations of this supermassive black hole, with this new image representing the first use of data collected from M87\\* after 2017 by the EHT.\n\nThe EHT was given a helping hand to collect new and improved images of M87\\* in 2018 when, five months after its construction was completed in the Arctic Circle, the Greenland Telescope joined the other antennas in the array that comprise this Earth-sized telescope. This improved the image fidelity of the EHT and its coverage of the sky, especially directed from the north to the south.\n\nThe repeated observations of M87\\* have also allowed the EHT to be used to test cutting-edge developments in an astronomical technique called high-frequency radio interferometry and independent imaging and modeling techniques.\n\n\"The inclusion of the Greenland Telescope in our array filled critical gaps in our Earth-sized telescope,\" Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía PhD candidate Rohan Dahale said. \"The inclusion of the Greenland Telescope in our array filled critical gaps in our Earth-sized telescope.\"\n\nRelated stories:\n\nThe EHT continued to monitor M87\\* after 2018, with further observations conducted in 2021 and 2022, and with the next observation of M87\\* by the EHT planned for the first half of this year.\n\nOne thing astronomers will be hoping to see in post-2018 observations is the jet of material emerging from M87\\*, something the EHT array wasn't advanced enough to see 6 years ago.\n\n\"The 2021, 2022, and the forthcoming 2024 observations witness improvements to the array, fueling our enthusiasm to push the frontiers of black hole astrophysics, Dahale concluded.\n\nThe team's research and the new images of M87\\* are published in the journal [Astronomy & Astrophysics.](https:\/\/www.aanda.org\/articles\/aa\/abs\/2024\/01\/aa47932-23\/aa47932-23.html)\n\n**Share your thoughts**\n\n0\n\n0\n\n0\n\n0\n\nJoin the community\n\nJoin the Space.com Family! The best way to keep in touch and to be informed of our latest quizzes and competitions, as well as news and offers.\n\nAlready have an account? Log in\n\nMy Details\n\nUpdate your details below...\n\nKeep in the Know\n\nWould you like to be kept informed about new quizzes and offers from Future and its partners?\n\nValidate Your Mobile No.\n\nWe have sent a code to . Please enter it below to verify your account.\n\nUpdate Your Mobile No.\n\nYou may enter a new mobile number below. You will be sent a verification code to the phone number you provide.\n\nembed-reactions.hint\\_heading\n\nembed-reactions.hint\\_subheading\n\nValidate Your Email Address\n\nWe have sent a code to . Please enter it below to verify your account.\n\nUpdate Your Email Address\n\nYou may enter a new email address below. You will be sent a verification code to the address you provide.\n\nCreate a Username\n\nThis will be publicly viewable so make it something you like\\!\n\nReset your password\n\nEnter your email address below. If it is registered with us, we will email you a code that will allow you to reset your password.\n\nCheck your inbox\n\nIf your email address was found in our system, you should receive an email in the next few minutes containing a code. Enter that code below to reset your password.\n\nSet new password\n\nPlease enter your new password below.\n\nLeaderboard\n\n| Rank | Player | Score | Time |\n|---|---|---|---|\n\nRobert Lea is a science journalist in the U.K. whose articles have been published in Physics World, New Scientist, Astronomy Magazine, All About Space, Newsweek and ZME Science. He also writes about science communication for Elsevier and the European Journal of Physics. Rob holds a bachelor of science degree in physics and astronomy from the U.K.’s Open University. Follow him on Twitter @sciencef1rst.","meta_canonical":null}

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Meta Title	2nd image of the 1st black hole ever pictured confirms Einstein's theory of general relativity (photo) \| Space
Meta Description	A second image of the first black hole ever pictured by humanity, the supermassive black hole in M87, taken one year later shows its shadow persists just as Einstein predicted.
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Boilerpipe Text	A second image of M87* the first black hole seen by humanity as it appeared in April 2018. (Image credit: EHT Collaboration) The second image of the first black hole ever to be pictured by humanity shows that its shadow persists a year on. The newly released image of the supermassive black hole at the heart of the galaxy Messier 87 (M87) was captured by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) on April 21, 2018, a year and 10 days after it was first pictured. Just like in the April 2017 image, this second picture of the supermassive black hole, known as M87, shows a glowing golden ring representing matter swirling around the black hole being heated to extreme temperatures. Still at the heart of this ring is a dark shadow, as predicted by Einstein's 1915 theory of gravity, known as general relativity . "A fundamental requirement of science is to be able to reproduce results," Academia Sinica Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics associate research fellow Keiichi Asada said in a statement . "Confirmation of the ring in a completely new data set is a huge milestone for our collaboration and a strong indication that we are looking at a black hole shadow and the material orbiting around it." The new image of this supermassive black hole confirms the accuracy of this theory of gravity, which predicts that M87's width should remain the same as long as its mass does not change significantly, thus confirming that the radius of a black hole is indeed connected to its mass. The image also confirms that some changes in the brightness of the disk have occurred, which are connected to the turbulence in the matter around the black hole and being gradually fed to it. M87* in 2017 and 2018: What changed and what stayed the same Located 55 million light-years from Earth at the heart of the galaxy M87 , the supermassive black hole M87* has a mass equivalent to around 6.5 billion suns. Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more! M87* powers the bright, active galactic nucleus (AGN) heart of the elliptical galaxy as it gradually feeds on surrounding matter, heating what it does not consume with powerful magnetic fields funneling material to its poles before blasting it out at nearly the speed of light. M87* made history when it was first imaged by the EHT on April 11, 2017 . Further data analysis of the M87* EHT image showed how the light was polarized around the black hole, giving hints into the structure of jet-launching magnetic fields and the nature of the heated gas, or plasma, surrounding the supermassive black hole. The 2017 and 2018 images of M87* are remarkably similar, with the bright rings around the supermassive black hole remaining the same size. This is an important observation as it shows that because the mass of this supermassive black hole hasn't changed significantly, neither has the diameter of its outer layer, the light-trapping surface called the event horizon which acts as the outer boundary of the black hole. This helps confirm the suggestion derived from general relativity that the diameter of a black hole is dependent on its mass. "One of the remarkable properties of a black hole is that its radius is strongly dependent on only one quantity: Its mass," NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory scientist Nitika Yadlapalli Yurk said. "Since M87* is not accreting material (which would increase its mass) at a rapid rate, general relativity tells us that its radius will remain fairly unchanged over human history. It's pretty exciting to see that our data confirm this prediction." Scientists expect that the black hole M87* isn't accreting matter fast enough for its growth to become noticeable over the duration of a human lifetime, and this new image also helps confirm this is likely the case. Side-by-side comparisons of M87* in 2017 and 2018 show how the bright spot in the ring of matter around the black hole has shifted (Image credit: EHT Collaboration) However, that doesn't mean nothing has changed for M87* between its two EHT close-ups. In the new image, the brightest peak of the ring around the black hole has shifted by 30 degrees counterclockwise. This is something the EHT team was expecting to see and confirms the variability of the turbulent matter around the black hole. "The biggest change that the brightness peak shifted around the ring is actually something we predicted when we published the first results in 2019," Academia Sinica Institute for Astronomy postdoctoral fellow Britt Jeter said. "While general relativity says the ring size should stay pretty fixed, the emission from the turbulent, messy accretion disk around the black hole will cause the brightest part of the ring to wobble around a common center. "The amount of wobble we see over time is something we can use to test our theories for the magnetic field and plasma environment around the black hole." What next for the supermassive black hole M87? The first image of M87 and the in-depth analysis of the data used to build it kickstarted a new era of black hole investigation and also gave scientists a new laboratory in which to test general relativity. The next step in these investigations was collecting repeated observations of this supermassive black hole, with this new image representing the first use of data collected from M87* after 2017 by the EHT. The EHT was given a helping hand to collect new and improved images of M87* in 2018 when, five months after its construction was completed in the Arctic Circle, the Greenland Telescope joined the other antennas in the array that comprise this Earth-sized telescope. This improved the image fidelity of the EHT and its coverage of the sky, especially directed from the north to the south. The repeated observations of M87* have also allowed the EHT to be used to test cutting-edge developments in an astronomical technique called high-frequency radio interferometry and independent imaging and modeling techniques. "The inclusion of the Greenland Telescope in our array filled critical gaps in our Earth-sized telescope," Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía PhD candidate Rohan Dahale said. "The inclusion of the Greenland Telescope in our array filled critical gaps in our Earth-sized telescope." Related stories: The EHT continued to monitor M87* after 2018, with further observations conducted in 2021 and 2022, and with the next observation of M87* by the EHT planned for the first half of this year. One thing astronomers will be hoping to see in post-2018 observations is the jet of material emerging from M87, something the EHT array wasn't advanced enough to see 6 years ago. "The 2021, 2022, and the forthcoming 2024 observations witness improvements to the array, fueling our enthusiasm to push the frontiers of black hole astrophysics, Dahale concluded. The team's research and the new images of M87 are published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics. Share your thoughts 0 0 0 0 Join the community Join the Space.com Family! The best way to keep in touch and to be informed of our latest quizzes and competitions, as well as news and offers. Already have an account? Log in Log In Forgotten your password? Reset it Not got an account? 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Check your inbox If your email address was found in our system, you should receive an email in the next few minutes containing a code. Enter that code below to reset your password. Set new password Please enter your new password below. Leaderboard Rank Player Score Time Robert Lea is a science journalist in the U.K. whose articles have been published in Physics World, New Scientist, Astronomy Magazine, All About Space, Newsweek and ZME Science. He also writes about science communication for Elsevier and the European Journal of Physics. Rob holds a bachelor of science degree in physics and astronomy from the U.K.’s Open University. Follow him on Twitter @sciencef1rst.
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[Astronomy](https://www.space.com/astronomy) 2. [Black Holes](https://www.space.com/astronomy/black-holes) # 2nd image of 1st black hole ever pictured confirms Einstein's general relativity (photo) [News](https://www.space.com/news) By [Robert Lea](https://www.space.com/author/robert-lea) published January 19, 2024 The second image of the supermassive black hole in M87 was taken by the Event Horizon Telescope shows it still has a shadow just as Einstein predicted. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. [Here’s how it works](https://www.space.com/41418-about-us.html#section-affiliate-advertising-disclosure). Click for next article ![A second image of M87\ the first black hole seen by humanity as it appeared in April 2018](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RpE3BpstutZhCEhbwZegX.png) A second image of M87\* the first black hole seen by humanity as it appeared in April 2018. 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You also agree to receive marketing emails from us that may include promotions from our trusted partners and sponsors, which you can unsubscribe from at any time. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful * Want to add more newsletters? ![Daily Newsletter](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vfpcxVDrtfCysGSjzYjeSg.png) Delivered daily Daily Newsletter Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more\! Subscribe + ![Watch This Space](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tjzmFi262iKuxrcCtSghKg.jpg) Once a month Watch This Space Sign up to our monthly entertainment newsletter to keep up with all our coverage of the latest sci-fi and space movies, tv shows, games and books. Subscribe + ![Night Sky This Week](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qsHaEcQ6H695rhBoNZdK5g.jpg) Once a week Night Sky This Week Discover this week's must-see night sky events, moon phases, and stunning astrophotos. Sign up for our skywatching newsletter and explore the universe with us\! Subscribe + ![Strange New Words](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Mk2LrCm68RFHzQhNyQaH2Y.jpg) Twice a month Strange New Words Space.com's Sci-Fi Reader's Club. Read a sci-fi short story every month and join a virtual community of fellow science fiction fans\! Subscribe + *** An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter The second image of the first black hole ever to be pictured by humanity shows that its shadow persists a year on. The newly released image of the supermassive [black hole](https://www.space.com/15421-black-holes-facts-formation-discovery-sdcmp.html) at the heart of the galaxy Messier 87 (M87) was [captured by the Event Horizon Telescope](https://www.space.com/milky-way-monster-black-hole-first-image-eht) (EHT) on April 21, 2018, a year and 10 days after it was first pictured. Just like in the April 2017 image, this second picture of the supermassive black hole, known as M87\, shows a glowing golden ring representing matter swirling around the black hole being heated to extreme temperatures. Still at the heart of this ring is a dark shadow, as predicted by Einstein's 1915 theory of gravity, known as [general relativity](https://www.space.com/17661-theory-general-relativity.html). "A fundamental requirement of science is to be able to reproduce results," Academia Sinica Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics associate research fellow Keiichi Asada [said in a statement](https://eventhorizontelescope.org/M87-one-year-later-proof-of-a-persistent-black-hole-shadow). "Confirmation of the ring in a completely new data set is a huge milestone for our collaboration and a strong indication that we are looking at a black hole shadow and the material orbiting around it." You may like - [![M87\ and its cosmic blowtorch-like jet as seen by the Hubble Space Telescope](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hpLw8QjLxtFpwGinGSiYF7.png) Astronomers watch 1st black hole ever imaged launch a 3,000‑light‑year‑long cosmic jet from its glowing 'shadow'](https://www.space.com/astronomy/black-holes/astronomers-watch-1st-black-hole-ever-imaged-launch-a-3-000-light-year-long-cosmic-jet-from-its-glowing-shadow) - [![An illustration shows dark matter powering the heart of a spiral galaxy](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/69kRCSZKQ5H5nddwqCTGR3.png) Could the Milky Way galaxy's supermassive black hole actually be a clump of dark matter?](https://www.space.com/astronomy/dark-universe/could-the-milky-way-galaxys-supermassive-black-hole-actually-be-a-clump-of-dark-matter) - [![(Main) An illustration of the supermassive black hole M87\* (Inset) the NASA/JAXA mission XRISM](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7m3KGMqKhwNrKVJp48qVvT.png) NASA X-ray spacecraft stares into the 'eye of the storm' swirling around supermassive black holes](https://www.space.com/astronomy/black-holes/nasa-x-ray-spacecraft-stares-into-the-eye-of-the-storm-swirling-around-supermassive-black-holes) Related: [1st black hole ever imaged by humans has twisted magnetic fields and scientists are thrilled](https://www.space.com/supermassive-black-hole-twisted-magnetic-fields-m87) The new image of this supermassive black hole confirms the accuracy of this theory of gravity, which predicts that M87\'s width should remain the same as long as its mass does not change significantly, thus confirming that the radius of a black hole is indeed connected to its mass. The image also confirms that some changes in the brightness of the disk have occurred, which are connected to the turbulence in the matter around the black hole and being gradually fed to it. ## M87\ in 2017 and 2018: What changed and what stayed the same Located 55 million light-years from [Earth](https://www.space.com/54-earth-history-composition-and-atmosphere.html) at the heart of the [galaxy M87](https://www.space.com/m87-galaxy-first-3d-map-hubble-keck), the supermassive black hole M87\* has a mass equivalent to around 6.5 billion suns. Get the Space.com Newsletter Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more\! By signing up, you agree to our [Terms of services](https:\/\/futureplc.com\/terms-conditions\/) and acknowledge that you have read our [Privacy Notice](https:\/\/futureplc.com\/privacy-policy\/). You also agree to receive marketing emails from us that may include promotions from our trusted partners and sponsors, which you can unsubscribe from at any time. M87\* powers the bright, active galactic nucleus (AGN) heart of the elliptical galaxy as it gradually feeds on surrounding matter, heating what it does not consume with powerful magnetic fields funneling material to its poles before blasting it out at nearly the speed of light. M87\* made history when it was [first imaged by the EHT on April 11, 2017](https://www.space.com/first-black-hole-photo-by-event-horizon-telescope.html). Further data analysis of the M87\* EHT image showed how the light was polarized around the black hole, giving hints into the structure of jet-launching magnetic fields and the nature of the heated gas, or plasma, surrounding the supermassive black hole. The 2017 and 2018 images of M87\* are remarkably similar, with the bright rings around the supermassive black hole remaining the same size. What to read next - [![Screenshot from a new NASA animation highlighting some of the universe\&\#039;s biggest black holes, including the record-holding TON 618, which is about as massive as 60 billion suns.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LonKAe8kapjmivFoVTBLRX.jpeg) James Webb Space Telescope reveals new origin story for the universe's 1st supermassive black holes](https://www.space.com/astronomy/james-webb-space-telescope/james-webb-space-telescope-data-backs-new-origin-story-for-the-universes-1st-supermassive-black-holes) - [![Images of the twisted jet of matter OJ287 erupting from a distant black hole as seen by the EHT](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tgMzuuacJWYAtq6kqNFh8J.png) Astronomers watch 2 supermassive black holes caught in a twisted dance with never-before-seen jet behavior](https://www.space.com/astronomy/black-holes/astronomers-watch-2-supermassive-black-holes-caught-in-a-twisted-dance-with-never-before-seen-jet-behavior) - [![a dense cluster of bright dots of light on a black background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/i9LaBjFVPGL37PKBwu7VwA.jpg) The 'invisible giant' at the heart of our galaxy \\| Space photo of the day for March 11, 2026](https://www.space.com/astronomy/stars/the-invisible-giant-at-the-heart-of-our-galaxy-space-photo-of-the-day-for-march-11-2026) This is an important observation as it shows that because the mass of this supermassive black hole hasn't changed significantly, neither has the diameter of its outer layer, the light-trapping surface called the [event horizon](https://www.space.com/black-holes-event-horizon-explained.html) which acts as the outer boundary of the black hole. This helps confirm the suggestion derived from general relativity that the diameter of a black hole is dependent on its mass. "One of the remarkable properties of a black hole is that its radius is strongly dependent on only one quantity: Its mass," NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory scientist Nitika Yadlapalli Yurk said. "Since M87\* is not accreting material (which would increase its mass) at a rapid rate, general relativity tells us that its radius will remain fairly unchanged over human history. It's pretty exciting to see that our data confirm this prediction." Scientists expect that the black hole M87\* isn't accreting matter fast enough for its growth to become noticeable over the duration of a human lifetime, and this new image also helps confirm this is likely the case. ![side-by-side comparisons of M87\* in 2017 and 2018 show how the bright spot in the ring of matter around the black hole has shifted](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BbA7cyBUHjxA2tbi88o6Qb.png) Side-by-side comparisons of M87\* in 2017 and 2018 show how the bright spot in the ring of matter around the black hole has shifted (Image credit: EHT Collaboration) However, that doesn't mean nothing has changed for M87\* between its two EHT close-ups. In the new image, the brightest peak of the ring around the black hole has shifted by 30 degrees counterclockwise. This is something the EHT team was expecting to see and confirms the variability of the turbulent matter around the black hole. "The biggest change that the brightness peak shifted around the ring is actually something we predicted when we published the first results in 2019," Academia Sinica Institute for Astronomy postdoctoral fellow Britt Jeter said. "While general relativity says the ring size should stay pretty fixed, the emission from the turbulent, messy accretion disk around the black hole will cause the brightest part of the ring to wobble around a common center. "The amount of wobble we see over time is something we can use to test our theories for the magnetic field and plasma environment around the black hole." ## What next for the supermassive black hole M87\? The first image of M87\ and the in-depth analysis of the data used to build it kickstarted a new era of black hole investigation and also gave scientists a new laboratory in which to test general relativity. The next step in these investigations was collecting repeated observations of this supermassive black hole, with this new image representing the first use of data collected from M87\* after 2017 by the EHT. The EHT was given a helping hand to collect new and improved images of M87\* in 2018 when, five months after its construction was completed in the Arctic Circle, the Greenland Telescope joined the other antennas in the array that comprise this Earth-sized telescope. This improved the image fidelity of the EHT and its coverage of the sky, especially directed from the north to the south. The repeated observations of M87\* have also allowed the EHT to be used to test cutting-edge developments in an astronomical technique called high-frequency radio interferometry and independent imaging and modeling techniques. "The inclusion of the Greenland Telescope in our array filled critical gaps in our Earth-sized telescope," Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía PhD candidate Rohan Dahale said. "The inclusion of the Greenland Telescope in our array filled critical gaps in our Earth-sized telescope." Related stories: — [This supermassive black hole is the most distant ever seen in X-rays](https://www.space.com/supermassive-black-hole-most-distant-x-rays-discovery) — [Astronomers snap 1st-ever direct image of a black hole blasting out a powerful jet (photo, video)](https://www.space.com/black-hole-jet-first-direct-image-m87) — [James Webb Space Telescope discovers oldest and most distant black hole ever seen](https://www.space.com/james-webb-space-telescope-oldest-black-hole) The EHT continued to monitor M87\* after 2018, with further observations conducted in 2021 and 2022, and with the next observation of M87\* by the EHT planned for the first half of this year. One thing astronomers will be hoping to see in post-2018 observations is the jet of material emerging from M87\, something the EHT array wasn't advanced enough to see 6 years ago. "The 2021, 2022, and the forthcoming 2024 observations witness improvements to the array, fueling our enthusiasm to push the frontiers of black hole astrophysics, Dahale concluded. The team's research and the new images of M87\ are published in the journal [Astronomy & Astrophysics.](https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/abs/2024/01/aa47932-23/aa47932-23.html) Share your thoughts 0 0 0 0 Random QuizPlay a Random Quiz Filter by Category Join the community Join the Space.com Family! The best way to keep in touch and to be informed of our latest quizzes and competitions, as well as news and offers. I'm in\! Not right now Already have an account? Log in This page will close automatically once you have completed the authorisation process My Details Update your details below... 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Check your inbox If your email address was found in our system, you should receive an email in the next few minutes containing a code. Enter that code below to reset your password. Set new password Please enter your new password below. Leaderboard \| Rank \| Player \| Score \| Time \| \|---\|---\|---\|---\| Log In or Register More Quizzes Log Out ![Robert Lea](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FrPVWMGMDcv5rjJzExQQ4f.jpg) [Robert Lea](https://www.space.com/author/robert-lea) Social Links Navigation Senior Writer Robert Lea is a science journalist in the U.K. whose articles have been published in Physics World, New Scientist, Astronomy Magazine, All About Space, Newsweek and ZME Science. He also writes about science communication for Elsevier and the European Journal of Physics. Rob holds a bachelor of science degree in physics and astronomy from the U.K.’s Open University. Follow him on Twitter @sciencef1rst. 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[![(Main) An illustration of the supermassive black hole M87\* (Inset) the NASA/JAXA mission XRISM](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7m3KGMqKhwNrKVJp48qVvT.png) Black Holes NASA X-ray spacecraft stares into the 'eye of the storm' swirling around supermassive black holes](https://www.space.com/astronomy/black-holes/nasa-x-ray-spacecraft-stares-into-the-eye-of-the-storm-swirling-around-supermassive-black-holes "NASA X-ray spacecraft stares into the 'eye of the storm' swirling around supermassive black holes") [![Screenshot from a new NASA animation highlighting some of the universe\&\#039;s biggest black holes, including the record-holding TON 618, which is about as massive as 60 billion suns.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LonKAe8kapjmivFoVTBLRX.jpeg) James Webb Space Telescope James Webb Space Telescope reveals new origin story for the universe's 1st supermassive black holes](https://www.space.com/astronomy/james-webb-space-telescope/james-webb-space-telescope-data-backs-new-origin-story-for-the-universes-1st-supermassive-black-holes "James Webb Space Telescope reveals new origin story for the universe's 1st supermassive black holes") [![Images of the twisted jet of matter OJ287 erupting from a distant black hole as seen by the EHT](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tgMzuuacJWYAtq6kqNFh8J.png) Black Holes Astronomers watch 2 supermassive black holes caught in a twisted dance with never-before-seen jet behavior](https://www.space.com/astronomy/black-holes/astronomers-watch-2-supermassive-black-holes-caught-in-a-twisted-dance-with-never-before-seen-jet-behavior "Astronomers watch 2 supermassive black holes caught in a twisted dance with never-before-seen jet behavior") [![a dense cluster of bright dots of light on a black background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/i9LaBjFVPGL37PKBwu7VwA.jpg) Stars The 'invisible giant' at the heart of our galaxy \\| Space photo of the day for March 11, 2026](https://www.space.com/astronomy/stars/the-invisible-giant-at-the-heart-of-our-galaxy-space-photo-of-the-day-for-march-11-2026 "The 'invisible giant' at the heart of our galaxy \| Space photo of the day for March 11, 2026") Latest in Black Holes [![A black circle in the center of the illustration surrounded by swirling glowing patterns spiraling outward from it. The left side is colored red while the right side is colored purple.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JjhmXS8mFkbE5qXSnb8ggA.png) Black Holes Could our universe exist because black holes ate up all the antimatter?](https://www.space.com/astronomy/black-holes/could-our-universe-exist-because-black-holes-ate-up-all-the-antimatter "Could our universe exist because black holes ate up all the antimatter?") [![An illustration of the supermassive black hole IRAS 05189-2524 which the XRISM spacecraft watched spring back to life](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EfPEznfetDrGHyxBc9hwwQ.png) Black Holes X-ray spacecraft watches monster black hole wake up and fire cosmic bullets at starburst galaxy](https://www.space.com/astronomy/black-holes/x-ray-spacecraft-watches-monster-black-hole-wake-up-and-fire-cosmic-bullets-at-starburst-galaxy "X-ray spacecraft watches monster black hole wake up and fire cosmic bullets at starburst galaxy") [![ Illustration of an eccentric neutron star–black hole binary. The neutron star’s path is shown in blue and the black hole’s motion in orange as the two objects orbit each other.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EmaYyXsYbtCknzr4JwN2JD.png) Black Holes Black hole and neutron star mergers push the laws of physics with their odd orbits](https://www.space.com/astronomy/black-holes/black-hole-and-neutron-star-mergers-push-the-laws-of-physics-with-their-odd-orbits "Black hole and neutron star mergers push the laws of physics with their odd orbits") [![An illustration of colliding black holes setting the fabric of space ringing with gravitational waves.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AU4KyD58keEkWydH4ooKJh.png) Black Holes The universe is humming with ripples in spacetime: Scientists just doubled our catalog of black hole and neutron star collisions](https://www.space.com/astronomy/black-holes/the-universe-is-humming-with-ripples-in-spacetime-scientists-just-doubled-our-catalog-of-black-hole-and-neutron-star-collisions "The universe is humming with ripples in spacetime: Scientists just doubled our catalog of black hole and neutron star collisions") [![An image showing blobs of yellow and purple light with insets of illustrations showing what these blobs could represent.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BdHb23dnDCzfjWzeVfdgyC.png) Black Holes Black holes! Supernovas! Merging galaxies! Oh my! Largest radio survey of the cosmos ever reveals 13.7 million powerful cosmic objects and events](https://www.space.com/astronomy/black-holes/black-holes-supernovas-merging-galaxies-oh-my-largest-radio-survey-of-the-cosmos-ever-reveals-13-7-million-powerful-cosmic-objects-and-events "Black holes! Supernovas! Merging galaxies! Oh my! Largest radio survey of the cosmos ever reveals 13.7 million powerful cosmic objects and events") [![An illustration of two black circles in the center of the screen separated by a red dot. 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Why has it taken humanity so long to go back?](https://www.space.com/space-exploration/artemis/artemis-2-astronauts-are-now-headed-for-the-moon-why-has-it-taken-humanity-so-long-to-go-back) 2. 2 [It's official: NASA's Artemis 2 moon mission will break humanity's all-time distance record](https://www.space.com/space-exploration/artemis/its-official-nasas-artemis-2-moon-mission-will-break-humanitys-all-time-distance-record) 3. 3 [Astronauts on the ISS watched NASA's historic Artemis 2 launch from space](https://www.space.com/space-exploration/missions/astronauts-on-the-iss-watched-nasas-historic-artemis-2-launch-from-space) 4. 4 [Venus shines at its best in spring and summer 2026 — here's what to look for](https://www.space.com/stargazing/venus-shines-at-its-best-in-spring-and-summer-2026-heres-what-to-look-for) 5. 5 [1st results from Blue Ghost lunar lander reveal how much we still don't know about the moon](https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/blue-ghost-lunar-lander-reveals-how-much-we-still-dont-know-about-the-moon) Space is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. 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Readable Markdown	![A second image of M87\* the first black hole seen by humanity as it appeared in April 2018](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RpE3BpstutZhCEhbwZegX.png) A second image of M87\* the first black hole seen by humanity as it appeared in April 2018. (Image credit: EHT Collaboration) The second image of the first black hole ever to be pictured by humanity shows that its shadow persists a year on. The newly released image of the supermassive [black hole](https://www.space.com/15421-black-holes-facts-formation-discovery-sdcmp.html) at the heart of the galaxy Messier 87 (M87) was [captured by the Event Horizon Telescope](https://www.space.com/milky-way-monster-black-hole-first-image-eht) (EHT) on April 21, 2018, a year and 10 days after it was first pictured. Just like in the April 2017 image, this second picture of the supermassive black hole, known as M87\, shows a glowing golden ring representing matter swirling around the black hole being heated to extreme temperatures. Still at the heart of this ring is a dark shadow, as predicted by Einstein's 1915 theory of gravity, known as [general relativity](https://www.space.com/17661-theory-general-relativity.html). "A fundamental requirement of science is to be able to reproduce results," Academia Sinica Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics associate research fellow Keiichi Asada [said in a statement](https://eventhorizontelescope.org/M87-one-year-later-proof-of-a-persistent-black-hole-shadow). "Confirmation of the ring in a completely new data set is a huge milestone for our collaboration and a strong indication that we are looking at a black hole shadow and the material orbiting around it." The new image of this supermassive black hole confirms the accuracy of this theory of gravity, which predicts that M87\'s width should remain the same as long as its mass does not change significantly, thus confirming that the radius of a black hole is indeed connected to its mass. The image also confirms that some changes in the brightness of the disk have occurred, which are connected to the turbulence in the matter around the black hole and being gradually fed to it. ## M87\* in 2017 and 2018: What changed and what stayed the same Located 55 million light-years from [Earth](https://www.space.com/54-earth-history-composition-and-atmosphere.html) at the heart of the [galaxy M87](https://www.space.com/m87-galaxy-first-3d-map-hubble-keck), the supermassive black hole M87\* has a mass equivalent to around 6.5 billion suns. Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more\! M87\* powers the bright, active galactic nucleus (AGN) heart of the elliptical galaxy as it gradually feeds on surrounding matter, heating what it does not consume with powerful magnetic fields funneling material to its poles before blasting it out at nearly the speed of light. M87\* made history when it was [first imaged by the EHT on April 11, 2017](https://www.space.com/first-black-hole-photo-by-event-horizon-telescope.html). Further data analysis of the M87\* EHT image showed how the light was polarized around the black hole, giving hints into the structure of jet-launching magnetic fields and the nature of the heated gas, or plasma, surrounding the supermassive black hole. The 2017 and 2018 images of M87\* are remarkably similar, with the bright rings around the supermassive black hole remaining the same size. This is an important observation as it shows that because the mass of this supermassive black hole hasn't changed significantly, neither has the diameter of its outer layer, the light-trapping surface called the [event horizon](https://www.space.com/black-holes-event-horizon-explained.html) which acts as the outer boundary of the black hole. This helps confirm the suggestion derived from general relativity that the diameter of a black hole is dependent on its mass. "One of the remarkable properties of a black hole is that its radius is strongly dependent on only one quantity: Its mass," NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory scientist Nitika Yadlapalli Yurk said. "Since M87\* is not accreting material (which would increase its mass) at a rapid rate, general relativity tells us that its radius will remain fairly unchanged over human history. It's pretty exciting to see that our data confirm this prediction." Scientists expect that the black hole M87\* isn't accreting matter fast enough for its growth to become noticeable over the duration of a human lifetime, and this new image also helps confirm this is likely the case. ![side-by-side comparisons of M87\* in 2017 and 2018 show how the bright spot in the ring of matter around the black hole has shifted](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BbA7cyBUHjxA2tbi88o6Qb.png) Side-by-side comparisons of M87\* in 2017 and 2018 show how the bright spot in the ring of matter around the black hole has shifted (Image credit: EHT Collaboration) However, that doesn't mean nothing has changed for M87\* between its two EHT close-ups. In the new image, the brightest peak of the ring around the black hole has shifted by 30 degrees counterclockwise. This is something the EHT team was expecting to see and confirms the variability of the turbulent matter around the black hole. "The biggest change that the brightness peak shifted around the ring is actually something we predicted when we published the first results in 2019," Academia Sinica Institute for Astronomy postdoctoral fellow Britt Jeter said. "While general relativity says the ring size should stay pretty fixed, the emission from the turbulent, messy accretion disk around the black hole will cause the brightest part of the ring to wobble around a common center. "The amount of wobble we see over time is something we can use to test our theories for the magnetic field and plasma environment around the black hole." ## What next for the supermassive black hole M87\? The first image of M87\ and the in-depth analysis of the data used to build it kickstarted a new era of black hole investigation and also gave scientists a new laboratory in which to test general relativity. The next step in these investigations was collecting repeated observations of this supermassive black hole, with this new image representing the first use of data collected from M87\* after 2017 by the EHT. The EHT was given a helping hand to collect new and improved images of M87\* in 2018 when, five months after its construction was completed in the Arctic Circle, the Greenland Telescope joined the other antennas in the array that comprise this Earth-sized telescope. This improved the image fidelity of the EHT and its coverage of the sky, especially directed from the north to the south. The repeated observations of M87\* have also allowed the EHT to be used to test cutting-edge developments in an astronomical technique called high-frequency radio interferometry and independent imaging and modeling techniques. "The inclusion of the Greenland Telescope in our array filled critical gaps in our Earth-sized telescope," Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía PhD candidate Rohan Dahale said. "The inclusion of the Greenland Telescope in our array filled critical gaps in our Earth-sized telescope." Related stories: The EHT continued to monitor M87\* after 2018, with further observations conducted in 2021 and 2022, and with the next observation of M87\* by the EHT planned for the first half of this year. One thing astronomers will be hoping to see in post-2018 observations is the jet of material emerging from M87\, something the EHT array wasn't advanced enough to see 6 years ago. "The 2021, 2022, and the forthcoming 2024 observations witness improvements to the array, fueling our enthusiasm to push the frontiers of black hole astrophysics, Dahale concluded. The team's research and the new images of M87\ are published in the journal [Astronomy & Astrophysics.](https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/abs/2024/01/aa47932-23/aa47932-23.html) Share your thoughts 0 0 0 0 Join the community Join the Space.com Family! The best way to keep in touch and to be informed of our latest quizzes and competitions, as well as news and offers. Already have an account? Log in My Details Update your details below... Keep in the Know Would you like to be kept informed about new quizzes and offers from Future and its partners? Validate Your Mobile No. We have sent a code to . Please enter it below to verify your account. Update Your Mobile No. You may enter a new mobile number below. You will be sent a verification code to the phone number you provide. embed-reactions.hint\_heading embed-reactions.hint\_subheading Validate Your Email Address We have sent a code to . Please enter it below to verify your account. Update Your Email Address You may enter a new email address below. You will be sent a verification code to the address you provide. Create a Username This will be publicly viewable so make it something you like\! Reset your password Enter your email address below. If it is registered with us, we will email you a code that will allow you to reset your password. Check your inbox If your email address was found in our system, you should receive an email in the next few minutes containing a code. Enter that code below to reset your password. Set new password Please enter your new password below. Leaderboard \| Rank \| Player \| Score \| Time \| \|---\|---\|---\|---\| Robert Lea is a science journalist in the U.K. whose articles have been published in Physics World, New Scientist, Astronomy Magazine, All About Space, Newsweek and ZME Science. He also writes about science communication for Elsevier and the European Journal of Physics. Rob holds a bachelor of science degree in physics and astronomy from the U.K.’s Open University. Follow him on Twitter @sciencef1rst.
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