The first image of the Milky Way’s central black hole and the unique enhancement Africa could offer future tests of gravity
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Date
Authors
Deane, Roger
Natarajan, Iniyan
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Academy of Science of South Africa
Abstract
The Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) Collaboration recently released the first images of the supermassive
black hole in the heart of the Milky Way galaxy. The ring size and shape in these images are consistent with
Einstein’s general theory of relativity. The location of this black hole in southern skies and its rapidly changing
appearance mean that expanding the EHT into Africa is critical to optimally utilise this unique gravitational
laboratory in the future. Leveraging our southern African geographic advantage will turn images into high-fidelity
movies – a game-changing milestone for precision tests of gravity with the next-generation EHT.
Description
Keywords
Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), Supermassive black hole, Milky Way galaxy
Sustainable Development Goals
Citation
Deane R, Natarajan I. The first image
of the Milky Way’s central black
hole and the unique enhancement
Africa could offer future tests of
gravity. South African Journal of Science 2022;118(7/8),
Art. #14332. https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2022/14332.