A groundbreaking discovery has revealed the presence of a blazar—a supermassive black hole with a jet pointed directly at Earth—at an extraordinary redshift of 7.0. The object, designated VLASS J041009.05−013919.88 (J0410−0139), is the most distant blazar ever identified, providing a rare glimpse into the epoch of reionization when the universe was less than 800 million years old.
Recent News
ALMA and the Event Horizon Telescope: Moving Towards a Close-Up of a Black Hole and its Jets
An international research team has shown that the Event Horizon Telescope will be able to make exciting images of a supermassive black hole and its jets in the galaxy NGC 1052. The measurements, made with interconnected radio telescopes, also confirm strong magnetic fields close to the black hole’s edge.
Black Hole Explorer Hopes to Reveal New Details of Supermassive Black Holes
Anew agreement between the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA) and the U.S. National Science Foundation National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NSF NRAO) will help the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) take its next steps – into space.
AUI Statement on the August 11th-12th Events in Charlottesville
AUI STATEMENT ON THE WEEKEND EVENTS IN CHARLOTTESVILLE
All of us, of course, were shocked by the scenes in Charlottesville on Friday and Saturday, and by the consequences of this vile domestic terrorism. As an organization with long-standing roots in Charlottesville we know it as a diverse and welcoming community to all people. The white supremacist and racist groups that descended upon Charlottesville did so with the intent of publicizing their hateful ideology and intimidating anyone who opposes it. AUI stands with the Charlottesville community in repudiating the Nazis, the KKK, the supremacists and all who spread hate and intolerance, for which there is no place in a free society.
We wish to thank the many members of the AUI community who have asked about the well-being of our employees in Charlottesville after last weekend’s events. NRAO leadership has stated that to the best of its knowledge, all Charlottesville families are safe. Faye Giles, NRAO AD-Human Resources, and Lyndele von Schill, NRAO Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, have offered assistance for those who feel particularly disturbed or disheartened by the appalling events.
AUI opposes bigotry, and promotes diversity and inclusion at all levels and areas of our organization, and in all our interactions with the broader community, to benefit our mission, and for and on behalf of the community we serve. The occurrences of the last few days only strengthen this sense of purpose and moral duty.
Roscoe Giles Chair of the AUI Board of Trustees
Ethan Schreier AUI President
Recent News
Astronomers Detect Earliest and Most Distant Blazar in the Universe
A groundbreaking discovery has revealed the presence of a blazar—a supermassive black hole with a jet pointed directly at Earth—at an extraordinary redshift of 7.0. The object, designated VLASS J041009.05−013919.88 (J0410−0139), is the most distant blazar ever identified, providing a rare glimpse into the epoch of reionization when the universe was less than 800 million years old.
ALMA and the Event Horizon Telescope: Moving Towards a Close-Up of a Black Hole and its Jets
An international research team has shown that the Event Horizon Telescope will be able to make exciting images of a supermassive black hole and its jets in the galaxy NGC 1052. The measurements, made with interconnected radio telescopes, also confirm strong magnetic fields close to the black hole’s edge.
Black Hole Explorer Hopes to Reveal New Details of Supermassive Black Holes
Anew agreement between the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA) and the U.S. National Science Foundation National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NSF NRAO) will help the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) take its next steps – into space.