Unprecedented image could revolutionise our understanding of black holes
Elements of a black hole
Accretion disc
A swirling mass of matter destined to spiral into the black hole or be ejected into space
Event horizon
Gravitational boundary beyond which neither light nor matter can escape
Relativistic jets
Matter and radiation extending out hundreds of thousands of light years
What the Event Horizon
Telescope image shows us
Gravity bends light from the disc around the black hole, giving it the appearance of a halo regardless of what angle it is viewed from
Event
horizon
Radiation from gas and dust moving towards us appears brighter. This imbalance makes the ring appear brighter on one side
Radiation from particles moving away appears dimmer
Unprecedented image could revolutionise our understanding of black holes
Elements of a black hole
Accretion disc
A swirling mass of matter destined to spiral into the black hole or be ejected into space
Event horizon
Gravitational boundary beyond which neither light nor matter can escape
Relativistic jets
Matter and radiation extending out hundreds of thousands of light years
What the Event Horizon Telescope image shows us
Gravity bends light from the disc around the black hole, giving it the appearance of a halo regardless of what angle it is viewed from
Radiation from particles moving away appears dimmer. This imbalance makes the ring appear brighter on one side
Radiation from gas and dust moving towards us appears brighter
Event horizon