As a gas cloud strayed within the gravitational reach of a black hole at the centre of the Milky Way, it was hoped we would observe a feeding supermassive black hole in action.
In summer 2013, the black hole at the centre of the Milky Way was getting ready to feast.
A gas cloud three times the size of our planet strayed within the gravitational reach of our nearest supermassive black hole. Across the globe, telescopes were being trained on the heart of our galaxy, some 27,000 light years from Earth, in the expectation of observing this unique cosmic spectacle.
For cosmic detectives across the Earth, it was a unique opportunity. For the first time in the history of science, they hoped to observe in action the awesome spectacle of a feeding supermassive black hole.
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Clips
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Photographing black holes
Duration: 01:55
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Dive into a black hole
Duration: 01:55
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Black hole in the Milky Way
Duration: 02:56
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Producer | Dan Clifton |
| Series Editor | Aidan Laverty |
| Series Editor | James Van Der Pool |
Broadcasts
Wed 26 Jun 2013 21:00- Thu 27 Jun 2013 23:20麻豆社 Two except Northern Ireland
- Thu 27 Jun 2013 23:50麻豆社 Two Northern Ireland
- Thu 1 Aug 2013 00:20麻豆社 Two except Wales
- Thu 18 Sep 2014 20:00
- Fri 19 Sep 2014 00:00
- Sun 15 Feb 2015 00:10
- Sun 14 Feb 2016 19:00
- Thu 18 Feb 2016 22:55
- Tue 25 Oct 2016 21:00
- Wed 26 Oct 2016 02:50