Key Takeaways:
- The 2017 imaging of a black hole's shadow marked a significant advancement in black hole observation, contradicting prior assumptions about their direct observability.
- The article highlights the enduring public fascination with black holes and their effects on space and time.
- A contest, running from November 19, 2020 to December 23, 2020, invited submissions of black hole images accompanied by speculative narratives about falling into a black hole.
- A voting period from December 24, 2020 to January 14, 2021, determined a winner who received a Black Hole Paperweight as a prize.
Astronomers and space enthusiasts alike used to believe that black holes could not be directly observed. Then, in 2017, scientists captured the first image of the shadow of a black hole, marking a monumental moment in astrophysics. The mysterious aura of black holes — and the lingering thought of what would happen if you fell into one — has captured the curiosity of backyard astronomers across the globe.
A black hole is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape it. And the deeper something falls into a black hole, the more bizarre space and time become. So, what would happen if you fell into the abyss?
From November 19, 2020 until December 23, 2020 at 11:59p.m. CT, you can submit a picture of a black hole (any picture will work just fine) along with one to three sentences explaining what you think would happen if you got lost in the abyss.
Then, come back from December 24, 2020 until January 14, 2021 at 11:59p.m. CT and vote on whose story of getting lost in the abyss is your favorite. The story that receives the most votes will win a Black Hole Paperweight from MyScienceShop — a $119.95 value!
The winner will be announced via email on January 21, 2021. Visit the Lost in the Abyss contest page for more information.
