Universe  ID: 10140

Merging Black Holes

Released on July 3, 2007
A black hole is a massive object whose gravitational field is so intense that no light (electromagnetic radiation) can escape it. When two orbiting black holes merge, a massive amount of energy is released in the form of jets. Meanwhile, the movement of these massive bodies disturbs the fabric of space-time around them, sending ripples of gravitational waves radiating outward. These waves are predicted by Einstein's theory of general relativity, but have yet to be directly detected.
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A closer look at the center of a spiral galaxy reveals a pair of black holes locked in a death spiral. When they merge, a massive amount of energy is released in the form of jets.
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As two super-massive black holes spiral around each other and eventually merge, they create gravitational waves.
 

Used Elsewhere In

Hubble Detects a Rogue Supermassive Black Hole

Credits

Dana Berry (Skyworks Digital): Lead Animator
Michael McClare (HTSI): Writer
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA

Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/10140

This item is part of this series:
Astrophysics Animations

Goddard TV Tape:
G2007-007HD

Keywords:
SVS >> Galaxy
SVS >> HDTV
DLESE >> Space science
SVS >> Black Hole
SVS >> Astrophysics
SVS >> Gravitational Waves
SVS >> LISA
SVS >> Universe
NASA Science >> Universe