Day: April 10, 2019

Earth Sky News for April 10: Astronomers unveil history-making 1st black hole photo

Astronomers unveil history-making 1st black hole photo

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Today, in coordinated press conferences across the globe, researchers unveiled the first direct visual evidence of a supermassive black hole and its shadow.
Scientists have obtained the first radio image of a black hole, using Event Horizon Telescope observations of the center of the galaxy M87. This long-sought image provides the strongest evidence to date for the existence of supermassive black holes and opens a new window onto the study of black holes, their event horizons, and gravity. Image via Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration.

Today (April 10, 2019), in coordinated press conferences around the world, researchers unveiled the first direct visual evidence – a photo, albeit in the “light” of radio waves – of a supermassive black hole’s event horizon. The image (above) is the result of a multi-year, international collaboration. The astronomers said it presents “paradigm-shifting” observations of the gargantuan black hole in the center of the galaxy M87, 55 million light-years from Earth. The image doesn’t show the black hole itself; black holes are black because no light can escape them, and thus the holes themselves are invisible. Instead, the image shows what astronomers are calling the black hole’s “shadow,” a bright ring formed as light bends in the intense gravity around the hole. This black hole, by the way, at M87’s heart, is thought to be some 6.5 billion times more massive than our sun.

To obtain the image, astronomers used the Event Horizon Telescope (@ehtelescope on Twitter) – a planet-scale array of eight ground-based radio telescopes – designed specifically to capture the first-ever black hole photo.

This breakthrough was announced today in a series of six papers published in a special issue of The Astrophysical Journal Letters. To say it is a big deal for astronomers is an understatement. Although black holes have been studied for decades, they’ve been largely theoretical objects. All the images you’ve ever seen of them have been computer simulations, or artist’s conceptions, until now.

Event Horizon Telescope project director Sheperd S. Doeleman of the Harvard-Smithsionian Center for Astrophysics said in a statement:

We have taken the first picture of a black hole. This is an extraordinary scientific feat accomplished by a team of more than 200 researchers.

And here’s more from a statement from the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT):

Black holes are extraordinary cosmic objects with enormous masses but extremely compact sizes. The presence of these objects affects their environment in extreme ways, warping spacetime and super-heating any surrounding material.

Multiple calibration and imaging methods revealed a ring-like structure with a dark central region – the black hole’s shadow – that persisted over multiple independent EHT observations.

Supermassive black holes are relatively tiny astronomical objects – which has made them impossible to directly observe until now. As a black hole’s size is proportional to its mass, the more massive a black hole, the larger the shadow. Thanks to its enormous mass and relative proximity, M87’s black hole was predicted to be one of the largest viewable from Earth – making it a perfect target for the EHT.

The shadow of a black hole is the closest we can come to an image of the black hole itself, a completely dark object from which light cannot escape. The black hole’s boundary – the event horizon from which the EHT takes its name – is around 2.5 times smaller than the shadow it casts and measures just under 40 billion kilometers [25 billion miles] across.

The Event Horizon Telescope links telescopes around the globe to form an Earth-sized virtual telescope. Its Earth-sized scale gives it sensitivity and resolution that’s truly unprecedented: hence, the first-ever black hole image. The EHT is the result of years of international collaboration. It offers scientists a new way to study the most extreme objects in the universe predicted by Einstein’s general relativity during the centennial year of the historic experiment that first confirmed the theory.

Doeleman said:

We have achieved something presumed to be impossible just a generation ago. Breakthroughs in technology, connections between the world’s best radio observatories, and innovative algorithms all came together to open an entirely new window on black holes and the event horizon.

And, as with all new advances in science, this new step forward is sure to lead to more questions! Astronomers and astronomy enthusiasts are already asking them …

Bottom line: First-ever black hole photo – what astronomers have called the “shadow” of the event horizon – was released April 10, 2019.

DEBORAH BYRD

Deborah Byrd created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Today, she serves as Editor-in-Chief of this website. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named 3505 Byrd in her honor. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. “Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers,” she says.

 

Published on EarthSky

COSMIC ALERT: Jupiter Retrograde

COSMIC ALERT: Jupiter Retrograde

Seek inner wisdom as giant Jupiter backtracks through the cosmos

 

By Tarot.com Staff
Astrology, Jupiter, Retrograde Planets

Enthusiastic Jupiter, the happy-go-lucky planet of expansion and growth, is slowing down and turning backward in the sign of Sagittarius from April 10-August 11, 2019.

During this time, we may not feel as optimistic about things, and our plans to tackle big new ideas or endeavors will slow and perhaps stall. Jupiter is a philosophical planet and Sagittarius is a philosophical sign, so this retrograde period will encourage us to open our minds and see beyond our limitations.

Do you like your job? Are you happy in your relationship? Have you been fooling yourself about something? Jupiter Retrograde asks those kinds of questions, and gives you four months to think about the answers.

Even while retrograde, bountiful Jupiter wants to help you figure out how to grow and change and become the best version of yourself. Use this time wisely — it’s a gift!

 

Tarot.com is Part of Zappallas USA © 2019

It Was Just Called to My Attention, We Haven’t Done This Month’s Mahjong Tile or Domino

Your MahJong Tile For The Month of April

Wan 8
Symbol: Knot

The Knot tile represents both bonding and severing. If the Sword tile (2 Wan) is in your reading then the time to sever ties with someone or something is at hand. Conversely if the Duck tile (2 Bamboo) is in your reading then there is bond that will strengthen. If both or neither appear in your reading, then you have a relationship of some kind that is of undecided value.

Your Daily Ogham Reading for April 10th

Your Daily Ogham Reading for April 10th

 

Nuin-Ash

The “World Tree” in Norse mythology was an ash tree; many cultures have looked to the ash tree as a source of power and order. Ash is a hardwood known for its use for weapons, sports, and musical instruments. This hardiness of ash denotes its symbolism for order, harmony, balance, and the status quo. Drawing the Nuin symbol can take on a variety of meanings, however it is most often associated with a life of peace and symmetry.

Fortune -When you find this Ogham, a great fate is at work. Take action now and let destiny carry you to the finish line!

 

Your Daily Rune & Witches Rune for Wednesday, April 10th

Your Daily Rune For April 10 is Isa

Isa

“Iss-ah” – Literally: “Ice” – Esoteric: Stasis, Stillness

Rune of concentration of things in a static or frozen state. Rune of stillness and the Ego-Self.

Psi: mental faculties, focus, ego, self-image/self-identity

Energy: stillness, contraction, stasis

Mundane: cold, self-preservation, harsh reality

Divinations: Concentrated self, ego-consciousness, self-control, unity of being; or egomania, dullness, blindness, dissipation, immobility, self-centeredness, lack of change, psychopathy.

Governs:
Development of concentration, will and focus
Halting of unwanted dynamic forces as an act of self-defense (ard against demonic influences)
Basic ego integration within a balanced multiversal system
Power of control and constraint over other wights (entities), emotional outbursts
Focus of the will into single-minded action

 

 

 

Witches Rune for the Day

The Blank Rune

Meaning: This is a rune of difficulty and negative influences will rule your life for a time, but as all difficulties are a learning experience it will lead to improved personal perspective and progress on your life’s path. Always consult the surrounding runes with this stone. If it lies with a positive stone, it indicates that the pain of this experience will lead to a beneficial change in circumst

All Your Tarot Cards in One Place, Daily Tarot, Love Tarot, Erotic Tarot & Past Life Tarot

The Daily Tarot Card for Wednesday, April 10th

The Pope

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keywords: teaching, school, blessing, ritual, marriage, acting!

Astrological Correspondence: Taurus

As a priest, the Pope, or Hierophant, represents traditional values and moral development. He is the wise teacher or counselor guiding groups or collectives on their path in search for spiritual truth or meaning. Depicted as a religious figure in ceremonial vestments he interprets secret mysteries, divine law, and theological doctrine. Although this card implies that he is linked to the church, the Pope signifies not only organized religion but also focus on groups in general, such as schools, teams, companies – any group with fixed roles and assigned responsibilities. The Pope is a symbol for rules, procedures, structure, and ritual, creating harmony within groups and staying their course so they can find identity and progress as a whole. The negative imagery symbolizes dogmatism and inflexibility, extreme conformity, or conventionalism.

 

The Daily Tarot Love Card for Wednesday, April 10th

The Emperor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today is perfection, in a good way. Why? Today represents someone’s advancement and growth in the ability to love. Someone, perhaps even the two people you are one-half of, grasps the realization that love is friendship intensified. If you’re dating and you want love, it is yours. The trick is to avoid being swept off your feet. Instead, grasp the idea of slowing down, knowing that time is on your side.

 

 

The Daily Erotic Tarot Card for Wednesday, April 10th

The Pope

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Pope represents pure masculine energy, and even if you’re female you’re going to be identifying more with your male counterparts today. The Pope shows you that coming to terms with past mistakes and taking responsibility for them in the present eases sexual tension, so let go of the past to free yourself from your inhibitions. You actually have quite the skill set when it comes to making sexual moves, but waiting until the time is right before taking the plunge can be a real turn-on. Let the anticipation build until you can’t take it anymore!

 

 

The Daily Past Life Tarot Card for Wednesday, April 10th

The Sun

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sometimes numbers fill your head and although you do the math, the equations just keep coming. This could be a sign that in a past life you were an economist. You might not understand it exactly, but there is just something in your genes that has always attracted you to numbers. Your past life as an economist is probably still on the treadmill of reincarnation. You follow numbers through the journey of your many lives, finding solutions that create new numerical questions.

 

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