Discovered in 1781 by astronomer Charles Messier, M87 stands out in the Virgo Cluster, a collection of roughly 2,000 galaxies. Unlike the swirling arms of a spiral galaxy, M87 has a smooth, elliptical shape, with stars thinning out towards the periphery. However, this giant isn't all quiet. A fascinating feature of M87 is a jet of energetic particles blasting out from its core at near light speed. This jet, visible in radio waves and imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope, is a product of the supermassive black hole lurking at the galaxy's center.
Speaking of the black hole, M87 harbors a whopper. Clocking in at 6.5 billion times the mass of our Sun, this monster is a testament to the extreme forces of gravity in the universe. In 2019, the world was astounded by the first-ever image of a black hole, captured by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) project. The image, which depicted a shadowy ring surrounding a dark void, wasn't from our own Milky Way, but from the supermassive black hole at the heart of M87, aptly named M87*.
The EHT achievement was a scientific breakthrough. It not only provided the first visual evidence of a black hole, but also confirmed predictions made by Einstein's theory of general relativity. Further observations by EHT are providing even more data on M87*, allowing scientists to study the behavior of matter around this behemoth and test the boundaries of our physics knowledge.
M87 remains a captivating target for astronomers. Its supermassive black hole, record-breaking number of globular clusters (around 15,000 compared to our Milky Way's 150!), and powerful jet all contribute to our understanding of galactic evolution and the exotic phenomena that occur in the universe's most extreme environments. As technology advances, M87 is sure to continue unveiling its secrets, offering a glimpse into the heart of a galactic giant.