Measuring a black hole’s mass isn’t easy. A new technique could change that
Flickering in the gas and dust of the accretion disk of a black hole provides hints of its mass
![illustration of a black hole](https://i0.wp.com/www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/081121_lg_blackholedisk_feat.jpg?fit=1030%2C580&ssl=1)
Astronomers have figured out how to use the disk of hot gas and dust around some black holes (like the one shown in this artist’s illustration) to measure the black hole’s mass.
Mark A. Garlick, Simons Foundation