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Astronomy Picture of the Day · Topic

Black holes

236 entries from November 9, 1995 to August 25, 2026. Entries that mention black holes.

How entries are matched: the topic word appears in the title, or at least twice in the explanation. This is an automatic word match, so a few entries may only mention the topic in passing.

Most recent

Many images of Earth's Moon are shown each partly eclipsed. The lunar images are arranged so that the eclipsed dark part is toward the center, showing a large dark circle in the center.

August 25, 2026

Earth's Shadow Visualized with Lunar Eclipses

Illustration showing a binary black hole close to merger in front of the Tarantula Nebula. Please see the explanation for more detailed information.

Caught in the Web: Visualization of a Black Hole Merger in the Tarantula Nebula

Illustration Credit & Copyright: Artwork: Carl Knox ( OzGrav , Swinburne University of Technology ); Astrophotography: Blake Estes & Christian Sasse , iTelescope.net ; Text: Cecilia Chirenti ( NASA GSFC , UMCP , CRESST II )

218 plots shown on a grid represent all of the mergers of black holes and neutron stars detected in gravitational waves and reported to date. Please see the explanation for more detailed information.

Black Holes and Neutron Stars: 218 Mergers and Counting

Image Credit: Ryan Nowicki , Bill Smith & Karan Jani Text: Cecilia Chirenti ( NASA GSFC , UMCP , CRESST II )

NGC 1275 in the Perseus Cluster

February 5, 2026

NGC 1275 in the Perseus Cluster

Image Credit & Copyright: Michal Wierzbinski , Hellas-Sky

The illustration shows a structured orange band stretching horizontally across the imager. Connected in the middle is the Milky Way Galaxy curving up to the top of the frame. A second image of the orange band runs like a sine wave across th

December 3, 2025

Visualization: Near a Black Hole and Disk

Illustration Credit: NASA ‘s GSFC , J. Schnittman & B. Powell ; Text: Francis Reddy ( U. Maryland , NASA’s GSFC )

Artwork depicts a colorful version of two black holes nearing collision from between the black holes. Swirling gas is depicted with wavey lined depicting gravitational waves ringing and an artificial grid depicting spacetime shown distortin

September 24, 2025

GW250114: Rotating Black Holes Collide

Illustration Credit: Aurore Simonnet ( SSU / EdEon ), LVK, URI; LIGO Collaboration

A bright nebula occupies the center of the frame. The nebula is complex but roughly tan in the center and red around the edges. In the center are four bright blue stars. Please see the explanation for more detailed information.

August 13, 2025

Trapezium: In the Heart of Orion

Image Credit: Data: Hubble Legacy Archive , Processing: Robert Gendler

An artist's illustration of what the surroundings of the supermassive black hole at the center of BL Lac is shown. A white jet protrudes horizontally toward the bottom of the image, emanating from a orange accretion disk surrounding a black

IXPE Explores a Black Hole Jet

Illustration Credit: NASA , Pablo Garcia

The Doubly Warped World of Binary Black Holes

May 6, 2025 · Video

The Doubly Warped World of Binary Black Holes

Scientific Visualization Credit: NASA , GSFC , Jeremy Schnittman & Brian P. Powell ; Text: Francis J. Reddy

An artistic illustration of a black hole is shown. The black spot in the center is the black hole, while the accretion disk of gas surrounding it is shown in orange. Stars and the darkness of space is shown near the top in the background. P

Spin up of a Supermassive Black Hole

Illustration Credit: Robert Hurt , NASA / JPL-Caltech

Virgo Cluster Galaxies

Virgo Cluster Galaxies

Image Credit & Copyright: Daniel Adibi

Journey to the Center of the Galaxy

November 24, 2024 · Video

Journey to the Center of the Galaxy

Video Credit: ESO /MPE/Nick Risinger ( skysurvey.org )/ VISTA /J. Emerson/ Digitized Sky Survey 2

Thumbnails are loaded from their original addresses. Images remain the property of the credited creators.

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2026 (6)

2025 (7)

Dec 3 Visualization: Near a Black Hole and Disk
Sep 24 GW250114: Rotating Black Holes Collide
Aug 13 Trapezium: In the Heart of Orion
May 9 IXPE Explores a Black Hole Jet
May 6 The Doubly Warped World of Binary Black Holes Video
May 4 Spin up of a Supermassive Black Hole
Apr 17 Virgo Cluster Galaxies

2024 (13)

Nov 24 Journey to the Center of the Galaxy Video
Oct 1 Porphyrion: The Longest Known Black Hole Jets Video
Aug 28 Tulip Nebula and Black Hole Cygnus X-1
Jun 16 Animation: Black Hole Destroys Star Video
May 10 Simulation: Two Black Holes Merge Video
May 9 The Galaxy, the Jet, and a Famous Black Hole
May 8 Visualization: A Black Hole Accretion Disk Video
May 7 Black Hole Accreting with Jet
May 5 A Black Hole Disrupts a Passing Star
Apr 26 Regulus and the Dwarf Galaxy
Apr 1 Swirling Magnetic Field around Our Galaxy's Central Black Hole
Feb 1 NGC 1365: Majestic Island Universe
Jan 5 Trapezium: At the Heart of Orion

2023 (6)

Nov 10 UHZ1: Distant Galaxy and Black Hole
Jun 29 A Message from the Gravitational Universe
May 26 Virgo Cluster Galaxies
May 4 The Galaxy, the Jet, and a Famous Black Hole
May 3 Centaurus A: A Peculiar Island of Stars
Jan 26 Active Galaxy NGC 1275

2022 (7)

Dec 22 NGC 1365: Majestic Island Universe
Oct 15 GRB 221009A
Jun 5 Two Black Holes Dancing in 3C 75
May 29 Simulation TNG50: A Galaxy Cluster Forms Video
May 13 The Milky Way's Black Hole
May 1 First Horizon-Scale Image of a Black Hole
Feb 22 Illustration: An Early Quasar

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2021 (11)

Dec 7 Ninety Gravitational Wave Spectrograms and Counting
Aug 4 EHT Resolves Central Jet from Black Hole in Cen A
Jul 14 GW200115: Simulation of a Black Hole Merging with a Neutron Star Video
Apr 27 Animation: Black Hole Destroys Star Video
Apr 21 Centaurus A's Warped Magnetic Fields
Apr 16 The Doubly Warped World of Binary Black Holes Video
Apr 15 The Galaxy, the Jet, and a Famous Black Hole
Apr 11 When Black Holes Collide Video
Mar 31 M87's Central Black Hole in Polarized Light
Jan 17 Jets from Unusual Galaxy Centaurus A
Jan 8 NGC 1365: Majestic Island Universe

2020 (8)

Nov 4 Fifty Gravitational Wave Events Illustrated
Oct 10 Virgo Cluster Galaxies
Sep 8 GW190521: Unexpected Black Holes Collide
Aug 31 SS 433: Binary Star Micro-Quasar Video
Aug 25 Visualization: A Black Hole Accretion Disk Video
Mar 31 The Galactic Center from Radio to X-ray
Mar 24 A Black Hole Disrupts a Passing Star
Mar 11 An Extreme Black Hole Outburst

2019 (8)

Oct 1 Black Hole Safety Video Video
Sep 3 Unusual Signal Suggests Neutron Star Destroyed by Black Hole Video
Aug 20 Animation: Spiral Disk around a Black Hole Video
Jun 19 Our Galaxy's Magnetic Center
Apr 27 The Galaxy, the Jet, and the Black Hole
Apr 14 Simulation: Two Black Holes Merge Video
Apr 11 First Horizon-Scale Image of a Black Hole
Feb 26 Simulation TNG50: A Galaxy Cluster Forms Video

2018 (6)

Dec 28 NGC 1365: Majestic Island Universe
Dec 3 Spiraling Supermassive Black Holes Video
Aug 5 Trapezium: At the Heart of Orion
Jul 29 Journey to the Center of the Galaxy Video
May 12 A Plurality of Singularities at the Galactic Center
Jan 2 Unexpected X-Rays from Perseus Galaxy Cluster

2017 (8)

Oct 22 Two Black Holes Dancing in 3C 75
Oct 12 NGC 1365: Majestic Island Universe
Sep 28 LIGO-Virgo GW170814 Skymap
Jun 6 The Case of the Missing Star
Jun 2 Black Holes of Known Mass
Apr 5 Filaments of Active Galaxy NGC 1275
Mar 27 Black Hole Accreting with Jet
Mar 12 At the Heart of Orion

2016 (5)

Dec 7 NGC 4696: Filaments around a Black Hole
Nov 1 Arp 299: Black Holes in Colliding Galaxies
Jun 15 GW151226: A Second Confirmed Source of Gravitational Radiation Video
Feb 12 Two Black Holes Merge Video
Feb 11 LIGO Detects Gravitational Waves from Merging Black Holes

2015 (5)

Oct 28 Massive Black Hole Shreds Passing Star Video
Oct 20 When Black Holes Collide Video
Jul 22 Gamma-ray Rain from 3C 279 Video
May 21 NGC 6240: Merging Galaxies
Jan 2 At the Heart of Orion

2014 (5)

Oct 26 Too Close to a Black Hole
Sep 28 Two Black Holes Dancing in 3C 75
Jul 7 J1502+1115: A Triple Black Hole Galaxy
Mar 23 The View Near a Black Hole
Feb 24 The Cloudy Cores of Active Galaxies Video

2013 (6)

Nov 20 Heavy Black Hole Jets in 4U1630-47
Oct 6 Hubble Remix: Active Galaxy NGC 1275
Sep 6 The Quiet Sagittarius A*
Jul 2 Circling a Black Hole at its Photon Sphere Video
Jul 1 Orbiting a Black Hole Video
Mar 12 Spin up of a Supermassive Black Hole

2012 (7)

Dec 17 NGC 922: Collisional Ring Galaxy
Dec 5 Plasma Jets from Radio Galaxy Hercules A
Nov 24 NGC 1365: Majestic Spiral with Supernova
Nov 2 The Black Hole in the Milky Way
Oct 6 At the Heart of Orion
Jul 2 Journey to the Center of the Galaxy Video
Mar 15 Solar Flare in the Gamma-ray Sky

2011 (4)

Dec 30 The Diner at the Center of the Galaxy
Nov 29 Across the Center of Centaurus A
May 31 Jets from Unusual Galaxy Centaurus A
Apr 13 Centaurus Radio Jets Rising

2010 (7)

Dec 7 Too Close to a Black Hole
Nov 7 The Center of Centaurus A
Sep 5 GRO J1655-40: Evidence for a Spinning Black Hole
Aug 20 NGC 1365: Majestic Island Universe
Jun 4 Hubble Remix: Active Galaxy NGC 1275
May 29 Black Holes in Merging Galaxies
Mar 14 Binary Black Hole in 3C 75

2009 (5)

Jul 27 NGC 1097: Spiral Galaxy with a Central Eye
Jul 2 Lyman Alpha Blob
Jun 18 NGC 6240: Merging Galaxies
Jun 8 Possible Jet Blown Shells Near Microquasar Cygnus X-1
Apr 19 The View Near a Black Hole

2008 (6)

2007 (3)

Jul 29 The Center of Centaurus A
Jun 30 Jumbled Galaxy Centaurus A
Mar 28 NGC 1365: Majestic Island Universe

2006 (6)

Dec 7 The Outskirts of M77
Jul 29 The Swarm
Jul 1 Wind from a Black Hole
May 28 GRO J1655-40: Evidence for a Spinning Black Hole
Apr 27 NGC 4696: Energy from a Black Hole
Apr 12 Binary Black Hole in 3C 75

2005 (6)

Dec 8 X-Rays from the Perseus Cluster Core
Oct 23 At the Center of the Milky Way
Jul 17 The Center of Centaurus A
Apr 2 Cyg X-1: Can Black Holes Form in the Dark?
Mar 30 ULXs in M74
Jan 28 The Swarm

2004 (7)

Dec 26 GRO J1655-40: Evidence for a Spinning Black Hole
Dec 11 M87's Energetic Jet
Nov 6 X-Rays from the Galactic Core
Sep 8 Molecular Torus Surrounds Black Hole
Jul 1 NGC 7331: A Galaxy So Inclined
Feb 24 X-Rays Indicate Star Ripped Up by Black Hole
Feb 3 X-Rays From Antennae Galaxies

2003 (9)

Nov 28 The Most Distant X-Ray Jet
Sep 12 A Note on the Perseus Cluster
Jul 12 X-Ray Milky Way
Jul 11 NGC 1068 and the X-Ray Flashlight
Jul 5 Centaurus A: X-Rays from an Active Galaxy
Jun 12 Cyg X-1: Can Black Holes Form in the Dark?
Jun 1 GRO J1655-40: Evidence for a Spinning Black Hole
May 20 A Primordial Quasar
Jan 8 X-Rays from the Galactic Core

2002 (12)

Nov 28 The Supermassive Black Holes of NGC 6240
Oct 18 At the Center of the Milky Way
Oct 12 Chandra Deep Field
Oct 8 The X-Ray Jets of XTE J1550
Oct 5 X-Ray Cygnus A
Sep 8 Too Close to a Black Hole
Jun 17 NGC 4697: X-Rays from an Elliptical Galaxy
Apr 21 The Center of Centaurus A
Mar 9 A Quasar Portrait Gallery
Feb 26 Jets from Radio Galaxy 3C296
Feb 2 Centaurus A: The Galaxy Deep Inside
Jan 10 X-Ray Milky Way

2001 (11)

Nov 1 M87's Energetic Jet
Oct 29 Spinning Black Holes and MCG-6-30-15
Sep 21 Where a Black Hole Roams
Sep 10 Galactic Center Flicker Indicates Black Hole
Aug 16 Centaurus A: X-Rays from an Active Galaxy
Jun 7 NGC 253: X-Ray Zoom
May 24 X-Ray Stars of 47 Tucanae
May 16 The Center of the Circinus Galaxy in X-Rays
May 8 GRO J1655-40: Evidence for a Spinning Black Hole
Mar 28 Chandra Deep Field
Jan 19 Black Holes Are Black

2000 (16)

Dec 10 Too Close to a Black Hole
Nov 10 X-Ray Cygnus A
Nov 9 The Cosmic X-Ray Background
Oct 31 The Perseus Cluster's X-Ray Skull
Oct 17 Gemini North Images Bow Shock Near Galactic Center
Oct 1 The Center of Centaurus A
Sep 14 M82's Middle Mass Black Hole
Aug 18 X-Rays From Antennae Galaxies
Jun 19 The Long Jet of Pictor A
Jun 15 X-rays From The Perseus Cluster Core
Jun 12 A Bubbling Galaxy Center
Jun 1 X-Ray Wind From NGC 3783
Jan 21 X For Andromeda
Jan 20 X-Rays From The Galactic Center
Jan 19 A Big Black Hole Floats By
Jan 17 V4641 Sgr: The Closest Black Hole Candidate

1999 (6)

1998 (6)

Dec 4 Centaurus A: The Galaxy Deep Inside
Nov 28 A Lonely Neutron Star
Jul 29 The High Energy Heart Of The Milky Way
Jun 22 The Doomed Dust Disk of NGC 7052
May 22 The Center of Centaurus A
Feb 23 M104: The Sombrero Galaxy

1997 (15)

Dec 6 A Quasar Portrait Gallery
Dec 2 Micro-Quasar GRS1915 Puffs
Nov 24 Jet Near Light Speed
Nov 7 Evidence for Frame Dragging Black Holes
Sep 26 A Lonely Neutron Star
Sep 12 The Center of NGC 6251 is Glowing
Jun 13 Streaming From A Black Hole
May 16 Signed, “A Black Hole”
Apr 13 Jets from SS433
Apr 5 A Black Hole in M87?
Feb 8 M104: The Sombrero Galaxy
Jan 15 Black Hole Signature From Advective Disks
Jan 14 Black Holes in Galactic Centers
Jan 5 Too Close to a Black Hole
Jan 4 A Star Where Photons Orbit

1996 (4)

1995 (5)

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Source

Astronomy Picture of the Day — NASA Science, science.nasa.gov/apod/archive

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