Matter Rides a Wave Around a Black Hole

  • Released Tuesday, July 3, 2007
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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.

This animation zooms into a black hole and accretion disk showing how the spinning black hole drags spacetime around with it.

For More Information

See http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/universe/blackhole_surfing.html

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Please give credit for this item to:
NASA

This page was originally published on Tuesday, July 3, 2007.
This page was last updated on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at 1:55 PM EDT.

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