Matter Rides a Wave Around a Black Hole
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- Visualizations by:
- Dana Berry
- View full credits
A black hole is a massive object whose gravitational field is so intense that no light (electromagnetic radiation) can escape it. Researchers have seen evidence of hot iron gas riding upon waves of spacetime around black holes. This animation paints an intriguing image of how a spinning black hole can drag the very fabric of space around with it.
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Credits
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA
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Animator
- Dana Berry (Skyworks Digital) [Lead]
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Writer
- Michael McClare (KBR Wyle Services, LLC)
Series
This visualization can be found in the following series:Related pages
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ID: 11476 Produced Video
Hunting Black Holes
Read moreSpotting black holes is tricky. Because they don’t give off light, astronomers have a difficult time pinpointing their location. But when a black hole gets close enough to an object, like a star, for example, and begins consuming the object's mass, the matter that pours into its gravitational clutches can get so hot that it glows and releases energy in the form of X-ray light. The most powerful X-rays are emitted from the hottest material swirling just outside the edge of the black hole. By observing this light with space telescopes, scientists can determine where black holes are hiding in the cosmos. Watch the video to see a black hole in action. ||
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