Russia's planned Spektr-M space observatory, also known as Millimetron, will be able to observe the supermassive black holes at the centers of the Milky Way and the galaxy M87 with far greater precision than is currently possible, according to Vyacheslav Avdeev, a researcher at the Astro Space Center of the Lebedev Physical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences. His remarks were reported by the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.
Avdeev said an instrument like the Millimetron currently under development would be able to view already known black holes with roughly ten times better image quality. He added that the observatory would also be able to detect additional black holes in other galaxies that are currently out of reach for the Event Horizon Telescope, the international network of radio telescopes that produced the first-ever images of a black hole.
What Spektr-M Is
Spektr-M is a Russian space observatory designed to study the universe in millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths. Its launch is planned for 2035. Supermassive black holes, such as the ones at the heart of the Milky Way and the galaxy M87, are objects with masses millions or billions of times that of the sun, and they can only be studied indirectly through their effects on surrounding matter and light.
Earlier reporting on the Spektr-M program has described it as a potential successor to existing black hole imaging tools. In April, representatives at the Lavochkin Research and Production Association said Spektr-M would become the most powerful space observatory in the world and would be able to look inside wormholes.
Other Russian Space Telescope Plans
Russia is also developing a separate instrument called Spektr-UF, envisioned as a domestic successor to the American Hubble Space Telescope. In June, Alexander Shakhanov, a representative of the Lavochkin association, said Spektr-UF is planned for launch on October 24, 2031.
Both projects form part of Russia's broader push to expand its space-based astronomy capabilities over the coming decade, alongside the Spektr-M mission focused on black hole and cosmic structure research.
