After a black hole was captured for the first time, the internet went crazy with memes.
A collection of 200 scientists worked on releasing an image of a black hole - once thought to be unphotographable - following a decade of tedious work. The image was captured by the Event Horizon Telescope, named for the point at which nothing can escape the gravitational pull of a black hole.
The Event Horizon isn't one telescope; it's eight radio telescopes around the globe. By combining their power, scientists created a super telescope that, starting in 2017, could focus in on a blackhole in the M87 galaxy. This black hole has a mass 6.5-billion times that of the Sun and is larger than the orbit Neptune makes around our star. Scientists needed supercomputers to analyze 5,000 trillion bytes of data that the telescope collected on this giant black hole.
From there, an imaging algorithm developed by MIT graduate Katie Bouman pieced together a final, single photograph that - once and for all - confirmed Einstein’s theory of General Relativity (the first to posit the existence of black holes). “We have seen what we thought was unseeable, we have seen and taken a picture of a black hole," said Sheperd Doeleman, the director of the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration, in a statement.
The image, of course, is now a viral sensation. Within minutes of hitting the web, memes began to surface -- from comparisons to the legendary Eye of Sauron in the Lord of the Rings, to the inevitable Trump association. Here are some of the best black hole memes we've spotted so far.
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Best black hole memes
Best black hole memes
The image, of course, is now a viral sensation. Within minutes of hitting the web, memes began to surface from all over. Providing plenty of giggles.
The image, of course, is now a viral sensation. Within minutes of hitting the web, memes began to surface -- from comparisons to the legendary Eye of Sauron in the Lord of the Rings, to the inevitable Trump association. Here are some of the best black hole memes we've spotted so far.
- 50 Incredible images of space like you've never seen before
- The best ever space robots of the past, present and future
- 38 breath-taking images from the International Space Station
Feeling cute
"Feeling cute might delete all information that passes through my event horizon later"
"feeling cute might delete all information that passes through my event horizon later"
A real eye-opener
XKCD comic creator shows us how awesome the Black Hole is with a quick comparison to our own solar system.
XKCD comic creator took a different stance by showing us how awesome the Black Hole is with a quick comparison to our own solar system.
Red ring of death
"The photo of the black hole is blurry, but if you zoom and enhance then you can see its full destructive power"
Ah, the classics. Here Mark Doherty shows us the full power of the Black Hole, aka the Red Ring of Death:
"The photo of the black hole is blurry, but if you zoom and enhance then you can see its full destructive power"
That's no Black Hole
Nibel says "That's not a black hole"
Nibel says "That's not a black hole"
Sauron again
Bobby Carlton Tweeted "So far this has been my favorite #blackhole meme."
Bobby Carlton Tweeted "So far this has been my favorite #blackhole meme."
Sound garden
Like a comparison with famous album covers, this one shows how the Black Hole image stands up against Soundgarden's Superunknown album artwork from 1994.
Like a comparison with famous album covers, this one shows how the Black Hole image stands up against Soundgarden's Superunknown album artwork from 1994.
"Black Hole / Black Hole Sun"
Merrie Melodies
This one really takes us back to the good ol' days.
This one really takes us back to the good ol' days.
The follow-up Tweet to this by Keith L M also made us laugh "Surely it should be the end of programme version that says, ‘Thats all folks!’..."
Black hole eyes
Earl of Frunkpuppy, a Neuropsychologist from Ohio Tweeted "#frunkpuppy Norman doesn’t look too bad with black hole eyes #BlackHoles #space"
Earl of Frunkpuppy, a Neuropsychologist from Ohio Tweeted "#frunkpuppy Norman doesn’t look too bad with black hole eyes #BlackHoles #space"
Homer's discovery
"Homer Simpson Has Discovered the Black Hole, Apparently"
One of the most amusing and delicious memes comes from George Campbell:
"Homer Simpson Has Discovered the Black Hole, Apparently"
Just like the simulations
"When the real black hole image looks just like the simulations."
"When the real black hole image looks just like the simulations."
Trump's evil plan
"This was the plan all along."
"This was the plan all along."
The first bite is with the eye
Some saw the Black Hole image and for some reason immediately started thinking about food. Matt Buechele Tweeted this image with the caption "Wait...zoom out"
Some saw the Black Hole image and for some reason immediately started thinking about food.
Matt Buechele Tweeted this image with the caption "Wait...zoom out"
A higher resolution
A vision of the future of space photography? "I am sure the spatial resolution of the #blackhole images will get better in future."
A vision of the future of space photography?
"I am sure the spatial resolution of the #blackhole images will get better in future."
Shocking
"My face when I saw the black hole" We were fairly shocked too.
"My face when I saw the black hole"
We were fairly shocked too.
Instagram vs real life
Much self-deprecating hilarity from Adam Wren with this one: "Me on Instagram vs. me in real life."
Much self-deprecating hilarity from Adam Wren with this one:
"Me on Instagram vs. me in real life."
Classic cat view
"The internet is busy transforming the first picture of a black hole into jokes and memes. This one is the best I’ve seen so far."
"The internet is busy transforming the first picture of a black hole into jokes and memes. This one is the best I’ve seen so far."
The customer is never happy
No one is ever happy. The customer is always right though.
With this meme, the internet brings the classic problem with customers and designers to life. There's been plenty of disappointment with the quality of the actual Black Hole image too. People don't realise how much effort and tech went into it.
Profile photo vs real life
"Your profile photo vs your tagged photo #blackhole"
Another classic commentary on how we present ourselves online versus how we appear in real life.
"Your profile photo vs your tagged photo #blackhole"
Black Hole with glaze
We have to admit, the Black Hole certainly looks a lot nicer with a dash of glaze.
We have to admit, the Black Hole certainly looks a lot nicer with a dash of glaze.
"First pictures from the #BlackHole emerging from the internet"
Impressive zoom capabilities
Huawei's P30 Pro wowed people with its camera when it launched, this meme poked great fun at both events.
Huawei's P30 Pro certainly impressed audiences with its camera capabilities. This image might be a bit of a stretch, but it's still hilarious.
Black hole cat
The secrets of the Universe are basically a giant cat.
Twitter user Viktória Bogyová Tweeted this image suggesting that "The biggest secret of the black hole was exposed."
The secrets of the Universe are basically a giant cat.
Donut ring
Another classic doughnut meme. Paul Scott Canavan Tweeted he used Photoshop's shake reduction filter and this was the result.
Paul Scott Canavan Tweeted "used Photoshop's shake reduction filter on the Black Hole photo and was amazed by the result #EHTBlackHole"
The eye of Sauron
"#EHTBlackHole that's no black hole, they found Sauron. Middle Earth here we come"
We've seen this one a few times, but we sure did chortle at this Tweet by @NoleMan22
"#EHTBlackHole that's no black hole, they found Sauron. Middle Earth here we come"
Black Hole overload
A perfect tribute to just how many memes there were for the Black Hole photo.
It seems appropriate to end on this meme. The internet is certainly overloaded with images of the Black Hole at the moment.