Explore the groundbreaking discovery of the black hole at the center of galaxy M87 in this comprehensive lecture by Rajaram Nityananda. Delve into the three key aspects that led to this achievement: the behavior of matter and light near black holes, their role in galactic center phenomena, and the advanced techniques enabling unprecedented angular resolution. Learn about the Michell/Laplace calculation, Very Long Baseline interferometry, and the principles of accretion onto black holes. Gain insights into the challenges of imaging such distant objects and the significance of this discovery for our understanding of the universe. The lecture concludes with a discussion on the current status and future prospects of black hole research, followed by an engaging Q&A session.