M87 Apr 2026

: The famous 2019 image shows a bright, asymmetrical ring of light surrounding a dark central "shadow". This ring is caused by light bending in the intense gravity of the black hole, with the brighter side resulting from the Doppler effect as material rotates toward Earth.

: It is estimated to be 6.5 billion times the mass of the Sun . : The famous 2019 image shows a bright,

Messier 87 (M87), also known as Virgo A, is a supergiant elliptical galaxy that serves as a cornerstone for modern astrophysics. Located approximately away in the constellation Virgo, it is one of the most massive and luminous galaxies in the local universe, anchoring the heart of the Virgo Cluster . The Historic Black Hole: M87* Messier 87 (M87), also known as Virgo A,

: Follow-up observations, including polarized light images released in 2021, have mapped the strong magnetic fields at the black hole’s edge. These fields are critical for understanding how the black hole launches its signature jets. These fields are critical for understanding how the

M87 is most famous for its central supermassive black hole, designated *. It was the first black hole ever directly imaged, a milestone announced by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration in April 2019.