The Event Horizon Telescope project is an international collaboration that was launched in 2009[1] after a long period of theoretical and technical developments. On the theory side, work on the photon orbit[3] and first simulations of what a black hole would look like[4] progressed to predictions of VLBI imaging for the Galactic Center black hole, Sgr A*.[5][6] Technical advances in radio observing moved from the first detection of Sgr A*,[7] through VLBI at progressively shorter wavelengths, ultimately leading to detection of horizon scale structure in both Sgr A* and M87.[8][9] The collaboration now comprises over 300[10] members, and 60 institutions, working in over 20 countries and regions.[11]
The first image of a black hole, at the center of galaxy Messier 87, was published by the EHT Collaboration on April 10, 2019, in a series of six scientific publications.[12] The array made this observation at a wavelength of 1.3 mm and with a theoretical diffraction-limited resolution of 25 microarcseconds. In March 2021, the Collaboration presented, for the first time, a polarized-based image of the black hole which may help better reveal the forces giving rise to quasars.[13] Future plans involve improving the array's resolution by adding new telescopes and by taking shorter-wavelength observations.[2][14] On 12 May 2022, astronomers unveiled the first image of the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way, Sagittarius A*.[15]
Since 2018 the EHT has been capable of imaging at a wavelength of 870 μm (345 GHz), giving an angular resolution of 19 μas, the best resolution of any ground-based telescope.[16]
^ abDoeleman, Sheperd (June 21, 2009). "Imaging an Event Horizon: submm-VLBI of a Super Massive Black Hole". Astro2010: The Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey, Science White Papers. 2010: 68. arXiv:0906.3899. Bibcode:2009astro2010S..68D.
^Bardeen, James (1973). "Black holes. Edited by C. DeWitt and B. S. DeWitt". Les Houches École d'Été de Physique Théorique. Bibcode:1973blho.conf.....D.
^Luminet, Jean-Pierre (July 31, 1979). "Image of a spherical black hole with thin accretion disk". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 75: 228. Bibcode:1979A&A....75..228L.