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These emissions were detected by LOFAR<\/a> (Low Frequency Array), an enormous radio telescope network spread across 52 stations in nine European countries.<\/p>\n LOFAR operates at the lowest frequencies that can be observed from Earth. However, its location produced a major problem for the study.<\/p>\n [Read: <\/span>How do you build a pet-friendly gadget? We asked experts and animal owners<\/a>]<\/em><\/p>\n LOFAR\u2019s observations are distorted by the ionosphere, a shell of free electrons that surrounds the Earth and acted like a cloudy lens over the telescope.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s similar to when you try to see the world while immersed in a swimming pool,\u201d explained<\/a> study co-author Reinout van Weeren of the Leiden Observatory.<\/span> \u201cWhen you look up, the waves on the water of the pool deflect the light rays and distort the view.\u201d<\/p>\n The researchers overcame this challenge by using supercomputers and new algorithms to correct the effect of the ionosphere every four seconds.<\/p>\n This allowed them to convert the radio signals into images of black holes.<\/p>\n The new map currently covers 4% of the Northern sky, but the astronomers plan to continue their work until they\u2019ve charted the entire area.<\/p>\n Ultimately, they hope to uncover new insights into the structure of the universe.<\/p>\n Published February 22, 2021 \u2014 14:53 UTC <\/p>\n