天文學(xué)家們拍到了史上首張黑洞照片。照片中的黑洞位于遙遠(yuǎn)的星系中,直徑達 400 億公里。它被科學(xué)家們稱為 “一個怪物”。
A black hole is an object that has such a large gravitational pull, not even light can escape. It devours all that comes in its vicinity. The one photograph measures 25 billion miles across – that’s three million times the size of the Earth.
黑洞是一種引力極強的天體,連光都無法逃脫。它能吞噬一切鄰近的物質(zhì)。這張照片中的黑洞直徑為 250 億英里,是地球的 300 萬倍。
The image shows an intensely white ring of fire. The lower half is considerably brighter, creating the impression of a smile amid the darkness of the cosmos. It's caused by superheated gas falling into the hole and is brighter than all the billions of other stars in the galaxy combined.
這張圖像展現(xiàn)了一圈強烈的白色火環(huán)。光環(huán)的下半圈明顯亮得多,宛如黑暗宇宙中的一抹微笑。這是由過熱的氣體落入黑洞而造成的,它比該星系內(nèi)數(shù)十億恒星加起來還要明亮。
The ring surrounds a dark circle, which is the black hole itself. The image matches what theoretical physicists and indeed Hollywood directors, imagine black holes to look like. But having their first real picture will enable researchers to learn more about the nature of space and time and ultimately our own existence.
光環(huán)圍繞著一個暗圈,它是黑洞本體。這張圖像與理論物理學(xué)家甚至一些好萊塢導(dǎo)演想象的樣子相符。但有了第一張黑洞的真實照片,研究人員們可以進一步探究時空的本質(zhì),并最終了解我們自身的存在。
gravitational pull 引力
devours 吞噬
vicinity 附近、鄰近
intensely 極強地
the cosmos 宇宙
superheated 過熱的
galaxy 星系
theoretical physicists 理論物理學(xué)家
ultimately 最終、歸根結(jié)底
existence 存在
1. True or false? This black hole contains all the billions of stars found in the galaxy.
2. In terms of size, how does this black hole compare with the Earth?
3. What cannot escape from this black hole?
4. Which part of the photograph shows the actual black hole?
1. True or false? This black hole contains all the billions of stars found in the galaxy.
False. The white ring of fire around the black hole is brighter than all the billions of other stars in the galaxy combined.
2. In terms of size, how does this black hole compare with the Earth?
This black hole is twenty five billion miles across – that’s three million times the size of the Earth.
3. What cannot escape from this black hole?
Not even light can escape from the black hole.
4. Which part of the photograph shows the actual black hole?
It is the dark circle in the photograph which is the black hole itself.