Editing 2135: M87 Black Hole Size Comparison
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
| − | This comic shows the picture of the {{w|Messier_87#Supermassive black hole|M87 black hole}} by the {{w|Event Horizon Telescope}} that was published on the same day as this comic. Overlaid on the picture is a scale image of the Solar System, showing the Sun, Pluto (one of the most well-known {{w|dwarf planet}}s) | + | {{incomplete|Created by a REALLY REALLY BIG BLACK HOLE. Explanation needs to be expanded. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} |
| + | This comic shows the picture of the {{w|Messier_87#Supermassive black hole|M87 black hole}} by the {{w|Event Horizon Telescope}} that was published on the same day as this comic. Overlaid on the picture is a scale image of the Solar System, showing the Sun, Pluto (one of the most well-known {{w|dwarf planet}}s), and {{w|Voyager 1}}, a deep-space probe and the current farthest probe from Earth. The comic is quite similar to [[1551: Pluto]], in which Randall overlaid annotations onto the recently-released first images of Pluto taken by the New Horizons spacecraft. | ||
The point of the comic is to celebrate the release of this image by the Event Horizon Telescope, referenced two comics earlier, in [[2133: EHT Black Hole Picture]], as well as to indicate the hugeness of M87 and the awe-inspiring thing that space is. This image has been widely publicized as being the first image ever of a black hole. Science had no visual evidence of black holes at all [https://www.space.com/16411-black-hole-photo-nasa-telescope.html until 2012]. | The point of the comic is to celebrate the release of this image by the Event Horizon Telescope, referenced two comics earlier, in [[2133: EHT Black Hole Picture]], as well as to indicate the hugeness of M87 and the awe-inspiring thing that space is. This image has been widely publicized as being the first image ever of a black hole. Science had no visual evidence of black holes at all [https://www.space.com/16411-black-hole-photo-nasa-telescope.html until 2012]. | ||
| − | In the title text Randall hypothesizes that if the Sun were at the center of M87, Voyager would be outside the event horizon. This | + | In the title text Randall hypothesizes that if the Sun were at the center of M87, Voyager would be outside the event horizon. This seems to fit with the EHT staff's estimates as published [https://eventhorizontelescope.org/ on their website], that the event horizon is 2.5 times smaller than the black shadow shown in the picture. |
| − | + | Regardless of the title text and its apparent correctness, [[Randall]] has placed the dot denoting Voyager 1 just outside the dark region. This may be based on the misconception of the dark area being the "black hole" itself, while, as stated above, the actual event horizon is a much smaller part (120 AU or so) in the middle of the black shadow, indistinguishable from the surrounding darkness. Whether this is intended as an obscure joke or if it's an actual art error is currently unknown. | |
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
| + | {{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} | ||
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:Size comparison: | :Size comparison: | ||
:'''The M87 Black Hole''' | :'''The M87 Black Hole''' | ||
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:'''Our Solar System''' | :'''Our Solar System''' | ||
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:EHT Black Hole Image | :EHT Black Hole Image | ||
:Source: NSF | :Source: NSF | ||
| − | :[An image of the M87 black hole captured by the event horizon telescope on the day that this comic was published is shown | + | :[An image of the M87 black hole captured by the event horizon telescope on the day that this comic was published is shown. A white ring about 1/4 of the diameter of the central black portion of the image is labelled with an arrow as 'Pluto'. A small white circle at the centre of the image is labelled with an arrow as 'Sun'. A small white dot on the right hand edge of the central black portion of the image is labelled with an arrow as 'Voyager 1'.] |
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{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
[[Category:Comics with color]] | [[Category:Comics with color]] | ||
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[[Category:Astronomy]] | [[Category:Astronomy]] | ||
[[Category:Space]] | [[Category:Space]] | ||
