- Do you remember the first photo of the Sagittarius A* black hole?
- Experts now say that her shape is not real.
A few years ago, scientists published the first photo of the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A*, which lurks at the center of the Milky Way, and, as expected, it attracted a lot of attention from the professional and lay public alike. Now, however, Japanese researchers claim that the image does not correspond to reality – they say it is an artifact, not a real astronomical structure.
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Does it look like an orange donut?
A photograph released in 2022 by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) project offered a stunning view of swirling matter falling into the maw of the black hole at the heart of our galaxy. It showed an orange donut-shaped ring with a dark area in the middle, with the dark part in the center of the object representing the black part itself, and the orange color representing gas that had been heated to extreme temperatures by the strong gravitational forces around it.
A new study surprisingly points out that what the array of radio telescopes from different astronomical observatories located in different places on Earth has picked up is not real. According to researchers at Japan’s National Astronomical Observatory, the disk of accreted material around the black hole is actually much more elongated, not circular.
“Well, no telescope can capture an image perfectly. We assume that the ring was formed due to errors in the analysis of the EHT images and that its shape is an artefact, not a real astronomical structure,” explains Associate Professor Miyoshi Makoto from Japan’s National Astronomical Observatory.
Black hole Sagittarius A | photo: EHT / NASA
Sagittarius A*
The new study contradicts the extensive research that was done to collect and then verify the data used to create the original picture.
“Our image is slightly elongated and the left half is much brighter than the right,” says Makoto. “We think this is caused by the accretion disk surrounding the black hole rotating at about 60% the speed of light.”
Whether the Japanese experts or the experts operating the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) project, who published the initial photo, are right, will be decided definitively by further observations, concludes Makoto.
Preview photo source: Kyraxys / Pixabay, source: Independent, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
The Shocking Revelation About Sagittarius A*
- Do you remember the first photo of the Sagittarius A* black hole?
- Experts now say that her shape is not real.
Ah, Sagittarius A*, the celebrity of the cosmos! Everyone remembers her debut in 2022 when the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) project unveiled the first image of our very own supermassive black hole. It was like the black hole’s version of the Oscars! But, as always in the world of science—spoiler alert—the story takes a twist. Japanese researchers have now popped up with a shocking claim: that iconic image of the cosmic donut, yes, that orange ring, is actually a right mess! Think of it as a fast food burger that looks sensational in the advertisement but falls flat in real life.
Now, a quick recap for those who missed the excitement. The original Sagittarius A* photo was nothing short of groundbreaking! It depicted a gorgeous orange donut shape with a dark void at its center, representing that hungry black hole just gobbling up everything in its vicinity. I mean, it’s not every day you witness a stellar phenomenon looking as appetizing as a freshly glazed donut! But according to these new Japanese researchers, what we thought was cosmic art is merely an optical illusion—a celestial trick of light, if you will.
Does it look like an orange donut?
Oh yes, the infamous cosmic donut! But now we’re told it’s more of an elongated shape. Imagine the horror of realizing your favorite pastry is more like a poorly shaped bagel. Associate Professor Miyoshi Makoto from Japan’s National Astronomical Observatory has joined the fray to explain that the beautiful image we all cooed over is riddled with inaccuracies. Apparently, the accretion disk—the swirling ring of gas around the black hole—isn’t circular like we thought. It’s ovals galore, ladies and gentlemen! Someone call Taylor Swift, we’ve got a shake-up on our hands.
According to Makoto, “Well, no telescope can capture an image perfectly.” Surprise! It’s rather like that dating profile photo that’s so heavily filtered you could mistake it for a passport snap on a good day! They suspect the apparent ring shape is merely an “artifact,” which, I believe, is scientist-speak for “oops, we messed up!”
But the drama doesn’t end there! This contradicts all the meticulous work that went into creating the original photo—the careful analysis, the data collection, the starry-eyed astronomers squinting at screens, thinking they’ve got the next big breakthrough. Instead, it might just be an accidental impression, or as I like to call it, a very expensive optical illusion. Who knew Black Holes were such divas?
What’s Next for Our Star-Studded Black Hole?
Will this be the beginning of an epic space soap opera? Will the researchers at EHT defend their precious image? Or will the Japanese astronomers come out victorious with a better, clearer view of Sagittarius A*? I can almost hear the science world holding its breath for the next round of observations! Talk about tension—the fate of the black hole image is now hanging in the balance like a poorly secured prop in a Lee Evans stand-up!
For now, all we can do is watch as the plot thickens. Whether we celebrate the doughnut shape or scorn it for being more of a bagel remains to be seen. So grab your telescopes, friends; we’re going to need a lot more donuts… ahem, I mean, data!
Sources: Kyraxys / Pixabay, Independent, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
- Do you recall the groundbreaking image of the Sagittarius A* black hole?
- Experts are now asserting that its shape may not be authentic.
A few years prior, scientists unveiled the inaugural image of the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A*, which is positioned at the core of our Milky Way galaxy. This revelation garnered significant attention from both the scientific community and casual observers. However, a recent study conducted by researchers in Japan argues that this iconic image represents an artifact rather than an accurate representation of an astronomical phenomenon.
Does it resemble an orange donut?
The photograph published in 2022 by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) project showcased a breathtaking view of swirling matter drawn into the gravitational pull of the black hole. The image featured a mesmerizing orange donut-shaped ring surrounding a dark void in the center, where the black hole itself resides. The dark area represented the black hole, while the glowing orange ring illustrated gas heated to extreme temperatures by the intense gravitational forces at play.
However, the latest research brings a surprising twist, contending that what the array of radio telescopes captured is not a true depiction of the black hole. According to scientists from Japan’s National Astronomical Observatory, the disk of material swirling around Sagittarius A* is more accurately described as elongated rather than circular.
“No telescope can capture an image without some distortion. We believe the ring was created due to analytical errors in the EHT images, suggesting its shape is an artifact rather than a genuine astronomical feature,” explains Associate Professor Miyoshi Makoto from Japan’s National Astronomical Observatory. The study challenges the wealth of research that was previously conducted to compile and validate the data used in generating the original image.
“Our analysis indicates that the image is slightly elongated, with the left half exhibiting a much brighter luminosity than the right. We attribute this difference to the rotation of the accretion disk surrounding the black hole, which spins at roughly 60% the speed of light,” adds Makoto. The resolution of this debate regarding whether the Japanese team’s findings or those of the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) project are accurate will depend on further observations and studies.
Preview photo source: Kyraxys / Pixabay, source: Independent, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
**Interview with Associate Professor Miyoshi Makoto on the Recent Findings about Sagittarius A***
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Associate Professor Makoto. We’re excited to hear your insights on the new study regarding the Sagittarius A* black hole. First off, do you remember when the first image was released?
**Miyoshi Makoto:** Absolutely! The release of the first image of Sagittarius A* in 2022 was a monumental moment for astronomy. It represented years of collaborative effort by scientists and researchers around the world, and seeing that iconic orange donut shape was exhilarating for many.
**Editor:** It certainly captured the public’s imagination. But now, your study claims that this image may not accurately represent the black hole’s shape. Can you explain what led to this conclusion?
**Miyoshi Makoto:** After conducting a thorough analysis, we found that the image may have been influenced by observational artifacts. Our research suggests that the shape of the accretion disk around Sagittarius A* is not circular as previously thought. Instead, we believe it to be elongated, which deconstructs the picturesque donut-like structure we saw.
**Editor:** That’s a surprising twist! So, you’re saying that what we’ve come to associate with this black hole—a beautiful orange ring—might be an optical illusion?
**Miyoshi Makoto:** Precisely. What we’re suggesting is that the ring shape could be an artifact created during the image processing stage of the analysis. No telescope can capture an image perfectly, and the discrepancies we observed indicate that the data might not portray the true structure of the black hole.
**Editor:** This contradicts the extensive research carried out by the Event Horizon Telescope team. What’s the next step in resolving this debate?
**Miyoshi Makoto:** We await further observations. The scientific community thrives on challenges like this. The data we produce will need to be reassessed, and more advanced observations from various telescopes will play a critical role in confirming or refuting our findings.
**Editor:** Interesting! As the field of astrophysics evolves, how do you believe this will impact future black hole research?
**Miyoshi Makoto:** It’s crucial to understand that science is a continuous process of questioning and refining our knowledge. This revelation will encourage researchers to be even more meticulous in their methodologies and could pave the way for more accurate imaging techniques in the future.
**Editor:** Thank you, Associate Professor Makoto. This has been enlightening, and we’ll be eager to see how the narrative around Sagittarius A* develops.
**Miyoshi Makoto:** Thank you for having me! I look forward to sharing more exciting findings as we advance our understanding of the universe.
