Science is Fun Fridays!
The first photo of our Milky Way's supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A*.
Taken by the Event Horizon Telescope, astronomers are using these observations to learn more about how the black hole interacts with, and feeds off, its environment some 27,000 light years away.
In order to get this image, scientists had to utilize the Chandra X-Ray Observatory, the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, and the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, including radio data from the East Asian Very Long-Baseline Interferometer as well as infrared data from the European Southern Observatory's very Large Telescope in Chile.
One of the biggest questions is exactly how black holes collect, ingest, or even expel material orbiting them. This process is fundamental to the formation and growth of planets and stars.
The researchers were also able to see X-ray flares, offering an opportunity to identify the responsible mechanism using actual images.
In other space news, keep an eye out for a possible meteor storm this weekend, from double asteroid 2006 GY2. Earth is set to pass through its debris trail on Sunday, May 15. The time of closest approach is expected to be around 6:20am ET.
Also, look up on Sunday night for the Blood Moon Total Lunar Eclipse.
Note that the full moon may interfere with meteor shower viewing.
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