The number of scientists behind the first ever image of a
black hole is around 347. The group of scientists were honored with the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics just last week. The group won $3 million dollars and this particular prize is also known as the "Oscars of
science."
The first ever picture of a black hole was all over the news
on April 10 when scientists issued the first image of a supermassive black hole
bounded by a flame-orange halo of white hot plasma.
The team was led by Shep Doeleman. Shep Doeleman is a
professor at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. The group of
scientists spent over a decade simulating an Earth-sized computational
telescope that united the signals obtained by eight radio telescopes operational
in sets around the world with their focus on the Messier 87 (M87) galaxy. Messier 87 is around 55 million light years
away.
The Breakthrough Prize was initiated by Silicon Valley tycoons.
The prize rewards the world's top scientists depending on their achievements.
Three other categories were also included in the prize. Other
categories are life sciences, and mathematics and they also took home $3
million.
All of these scientists who won the prize will be recognized
at a celebration awards ceremony on November 3, at NASA Ames Research Center in
California.