The black hole explorer (BHEX)

Michael D. Johnson; Kazunori Akiyama; Rebecca Baturin; Peter Galison; Janice Houston; Sara Issaoun; Alexandru Lupsasca; Daniel P. Marrone

doi:10.1117/12.3103170

Abstract

The Black Hole Explorer (BHEX) will be the first submillimeter Earth–space very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI) mission, delivering the sharpest images in the history of astronomy. BHEX will measure fundamental properties of supermassive black holes and their relativistic jets, enabling transformational discoveries that directly address key priorities of the Astro2020 Decadal Survey. In particular, BHEX will measure the sharp “photon ring” that is predicted to exist in images of black holes from light that orbited the black hole before escaping. In addition to detailed studies of the nearby supermassive black holes M87* and Sgr A*, BHEX will probe the growth of supermassive black holes by measuring apparent shadow sizes for a broad population of targets. Here, we present the science objectives and recent technical developments of BHEX, which is being developed for launch within the next decade as a NASA Small Explorer (SMEX) mission.

Original language	English
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3103170
Publication status	Published - 18 Aug 2026
Event	SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation 2026 - Copenhagen, Denmark Duration: 5 Jul 2026 → 10 Jul 2026 https://spie.org/conferences-and-exhibitions/astronomical-telescopes-and-instrumentation

Conference

Conference	SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation 2026
Country/Territory	Denmark
City	Copenhagen
Period	5/07/26 → 10/07/26
Internet address	https://spie.org/conferences-and-exhibitions/astronomical-telescopes-and-instrumentation

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10.1117/12.3103170

Cite this

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title = "The black hole explorer (BHEX)",

abstract = "The Black Hole Explorer (BHEX) will be the first submillimeter Earth{\textendash}space very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI) mission, delivering the sharpest images in the history of astronomy. BHEX will measure fundamental properties of supermassive black holes and their relativistic jets, enabling transformational discoveries that directly address key priorities of the Astro2020 Decadal Survey. In particular, BHEX will measure the sharp {\textquotedblleft}photon ring{\textquotedblright} that is predicted to exist in images of black holes from light that orbited the black hole before escaping. In addition to detailed studies of the nearby supermassive black holes M87* and Sgr A*, BHEX will probe the growth of supermassive black holes by measuring apparent shadow sizes for a broad population of targets. Here, we present the science objectives and recent technical developments of BHEX, which is being developed for launch within the next decade as a NASA Small Explorer (SMEX) mission.",

author = "Johnson, \{Michael D.\} and Kazunori Akiyama and Rebecca Baturin and Peter Galison and Janice Houston and Sara Issaoun and Alexandru Lupsasca and Marrone, \{Daniel P.\}",

year = "2026",

month = aug,

day = "18",

doi = "10.1117/12.3103170",

language = "English",

note = "SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation 2026 ; Conference date: 05-07-2026 Through 10-07-2026",

url = "https://spie.org/conferences-and-exhibitions/astronomical-telescopes-and-instrumentation",

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AU - Johnson, Michael D.

AU - Akiyama, Kazunori

AU - Baturin, Rebecca

AU - Galison, Peter

AU - Houston, Janice

AU - Issaoun, Sara

AU - Lupsasca, Alexandru

AU - Marrone, Daniel P.

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Y1 - 2026/8/18

N2 - The Black Hole Explorer (BHEX) will be the first submillimeter Earth–space very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI) mission, delivering the sharpest images in the history of astronomy. BHEX will measure fundamental properties of supermassive black holes and their relativistic jets, enabling transformational discoveries that directly address key priorities of the Astro2020 Decadal Survey. In particular, BHEX will measure the sharp “photon ring” that is predicted to exist in images of black holes from light that orbited the black hole before escaping. In addition to detailed studies of the nearby supermassive black holes M87* and Sgr A*, BHEX will probe the growth of supermassive black holes by measuring apparent shadow sizes for a broad population of targets. Here, we present the science objectives and recent technical developments of BHEX, which is being developed for launch within the next decade as a NASA Small Explorer (SMEX) mission.

AB - The Black Hole Explorer (BHEX) will be the first submillimeter Earth–space very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI) mission, delivering the sharpest images in the history of astronomy. BHEX will measure fundamental properties of supermassive black holes and their relativistic jets, enabling transformational discoveries that directly address key priorities of the Astro2020 Decadal Survey. In particular, BHEX will measure the sharp “photon ring” that is predicted to exist in images of black holes from light that orbited the black hole before escaping. In addition to detailed studies of the nearby supermassive black holes M87* and Sgr A*, BHEX will probe the growth of supermassive black holes by measuring apparent shadow sizes for a broad population of targets. Here, we present the science objectives and recent technical developments of BHEX, which is being developed for launch within the next decade as a NASA Small Explorer (SMEX) mission.

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M3 - Abstract

T2 - SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation 2026

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ER -

The black hole explorer (BHEX)

Abstract

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