Astronomers have used a combination of low-frequency telescopes, supercomputers and algorithms to create an extended aerial map of 25,000 supermassive black holes.
The map shows thousands of sparkling dots that look like stars but are actually huge black holes, each located in a different star.
The researchers determined the celestial objects by analyzing radio emissions emitted by matter emitted as it approached the black holes.
These emissions were detected by LOFAR (Low Frequency Array), a huge radio telescope network spread over 52 stations in nine European countries.
LOFAR operates at the lowest frequencies that can be observed from the earth. However, the location posed a major problem for the study.
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LOFAR’s observations are distorted by the ionosphere, a shell of free electrons that surrounds the earth and acts like a cloudy lens over the telescope.
“It’s similar to trying to see the world while immersed in a pool,” the study explained co-author Reinout van Weeren of the Leiden Observatory. “When you look up, the waves on the water from the pool divert the rays of light and distort the view.”
The researchers overcame this challenge by using supercomputers and new algorithms to correct the effect of the ionosphere every four seconds.
This allowed them to convert the radio signals into images of black holes.
The new map currently covers 4% of the northern sky, but astronomers plan to continue their work until they map the entire area.
Eventually, they hope to discover new insights into the structure of the universe.
Published on February 22, 2021 – 14:53 UTC