{ "id": 5586, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5586/", "page_type": "Visualization", "title": "Extreme Mass Ratio Black Hole Inspirals (EMRIs)", "description": "Shows seven unique black hole inspirals.", "release_date": "2026-01-20T12:00:00-05:00", "update_date": "2026-01-20T12:17:07.407739-05:00", "main_image": { "id": 1195363, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/blackhole_all2.png", "filename": "blackhole_all2.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that resembles a bird’s nest.", "width": 1920, "height": 1066, "pixels": 2046720 }, "main_video": { "id": 1195364, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/blackhole_7windows_HD.mp4", "filename": "blackhole_7windows_HD.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that resembles a bird’s nest.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 }, "main_credits": { "Visualizations by": [ { "name": "Alex Kekesi", "employer": "Global Science and Technology, Inc." } ], "Written by": [ { "name": "Barb Mattson", "employer": "University of Maryland College Park" } ], "Produced by": [ { "name": "Scott Wiessinger", "employer": "eMITS" } ], "Scientific consulting by": [ { "name": "Jeremy Schnittman", "employer": "NASA/GSFC" }, { "name": "Courtney McIntosh", "employer": null } ] }, "progress": "Complete", "media_groups": [ { "id": 378934, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5586/#media_group_378934", "widget": "Video player", "title": "Black Hole Inspiral Comparison", "caption": "This visualization compares seven different examples of extreme mass ratio inspirals. In each, the supermassive black hole is 10 million times more massive than the infalling stellar remnant, roughly equivalent to an object of half the Sun’s mass orbiting the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way. The main differences in the models are the supermassive black hole’s spin and aspects of the remnant’s orbit, like its size, tilt, and shape. A teal circle around each black hole marks its event horizon, or the point of no return. The purple region around some of the black holes shows their ergospheres, where space-time drags along as the black hole spins. Lines in white serve as directional guides, and white circles show regions two and three times larger than the black hole's event horizon. Each visualization is named for a shape or characteristic of the orbit.", "description": "Video description: Seven panels outlined in white show the orbits of stellar remnants around black holes. These are labeled “Two-lobe,” “Three-lobe,” and “Five-lobe” across the top, and “Bird’s nest,” “Retrograde Plunge,” “Spherical,” and “Zoom whirl” along the bottom. In each, the black hole is a black sphere at the center surrounded by a teal outline. Several also have a purple outline slightly further out; these are spinning black holes. As the video progresses, orange lines trace orbital paths around the black hole. The orange lines linger, then fade, briefly showing the orbital history of the object. The visualization starts by showing an edge-on view of all of the systems. In the starting view, the two-lobe and five-lobe orbits in the upper left and right look relatively flat while the others dip above and below the central plane. The camera rises, eventually ending its motion to show the face-on view of each system. At the end, complex spirals encircle each black hole.", "items": [ { "id": 492305, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158554, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/frames/3840x3840_1x1_30fps/birds_nest_gridtilt_glow/", "filename": "birds_nest_gridtilt_glow", "media_type": "Frames", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that resembles a bird’s nest.", "width": 3840, "height": 3840, "pixels": 14745600 } }, { "id": 492306, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158555, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/frames/3840x3840_1x1_30fps/five_lobe_gridtilt_glow/", "filename": "five_lobe_gridtilt_glow", "media_type": "Frames", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that resembles a bird’s nest.", "width": 3840, "height": 3840, "pixels": 14745600 } }, { "id": 492307, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158556, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/frames/3840x3840_1x1_30fps/retrograde_plunge_gridtilt_glow/", "filename": "retrograde_plunge_gridtilt_glow", "media_type": "Frames", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that resembles a bird’s nest.", "width": 3840, "height": 3840, "pixels": 14745600 } }, { "id": 492308, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158557, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/frames/3840x3840_1x1_30fps/spherical_gridtilt_glow/", "filename": "spherical_gridtilt_glow", "media_type": "Frames", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that resembles a bird’s nest.", "width": 3840, "height": 3840, "pixels": 14745600 } }, { "id": 492309, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158558, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/frames/3840x3840_1x1_30fps/three_lobe_gridtilt_glow/", "filename": "three_lobe_gridtilt_glow", "media_type": "Frames", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that resembles a bird’s nest.", "width": 3840, "height": 3840, "pixels": 14745600 } }, { "id": 492310, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158559, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/frames/3840x3840_1x1_30fps/two_lobe_gridtilt_glow/", "filename": "two_lobe_gridtilt_glow", "media_type": "Frames", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that resembles a bird’s nest.", "width": 3840, "height": 3840, "pixels": 14745600 } }, { "id": 492311, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158560, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/frames/3840x3840_1x1_30fps/zoom_whirl_gridtilt_glow/", "filename": "zoom_whirl_gridtilt_glow", "media_type": "Frames", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that resembles a bird’s nest.", "width": 3840, "height": 3840, "pixels": 14745600 } }, { "id": 492344, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1195364, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/blackhole_7windows_HD.mp4", "filename": "blackhole_7windows_HD.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that resembles a bird’s nest.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 503439, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1195363, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/blackhole_all2.png", "filename": "blackhole_all2.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that resembles a bird’s nest.", "width": 1920, "height": 1066, "pixels": 2046720 } }, { "id": 504337, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1195810, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/blackhole_7windows_UHD.mp4", "filename": "blackhole_7windows_UHD.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that resembles a bird’s nest.", "width": 3840, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8294400 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 379307, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5586/#media_group_379307", "widget": "Basic text", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "If a stellar remnant — like a white dwarf, neutron star, or small black hole — wanders too close to a supermassive black hole, it can be sent into an orbit that traces a complex pattern around the black hole. These types of systems are called extreme mass ratio inspirals, or EMRIs for short, due to the large mass difference between the supermassive black hole and stellar remnant. \r\n\r\nScientists model these systems to understand the signals they expect to detect with future gravitational wave observatories like the upcoming LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) mission that is led by ESA (European Space Agency) in partnership with NASA. \r\n\r\nThis page presents visualizations of seven examples, representing just a few of myriad types of systems scientists anticipate they’ll find. In all of them, the ratio between the mass of the stellar remnant to the supermassive black hole is the same: 1 to 10 million. For a supermassive black hole like the one at the center of the Milky Way, which weighs about 4 million solar masses, this would correspond to a 0.4 solar mass stellar remnant. \r\n\r\nThe primary factors driving the differences seen in these models are the remnant's orbital features — like its size, direction, tilt, and shape — and the black hole's spin.\r\n\r\nThe black hole’s spin is characterized by a percentage representing a range from non-spinning (0%) to a maximum possible spin (100%), when the black hole’s event horizon — its point of no return — would be rotating at the speed of light. The spin is positive if the black hole turns in the same direction as the remnant orbits, and negative if they are going in opposite directions. \r\n\r\nIn all the visualizations, a teal circle around the black hole marks its event horizon. Two white circles of radius two and three times the black hole’s radius provide a point of comparison between the visualizations. Additionally, straight lines in white mark the three spacial axes and serve as directional guides. For the black holes with spin, a purple line shows the ergosphere, which is a region surrounding spinning black holes where space-time is dragged along with the black hole as it turns.", "items": [], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 378935, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5586/#media_group_378935", "widget": "Video player", "title": "Two-lobe Inspiral (Moving Camera)", "caption": "A compact stellar remnant like a white dwarf, neutron star, or small black hole orbits a non-spinning supermassive black hole. The orbit stays within a plane and repeats over time to create two prominent lobes around the black hole. The full video would represent about 131 hours for a supermassive black hole like the one at the center of the Milky Way; longer for a larger black hole, shorter for a less massive one.", "description": "Video description: This visualization shows the orbit traced by a compact stellar object around a supermassive black hole. A black sphere at the center with a teal outline marks the black hole. As the video progresses, an orange line traces the movement of the stellar remnant. The visualization starts with an edge-on view of the system. The orange trail extends back and forth along a central horizontal line. As the camera tilts to show the system from above, the orbital pattern becomes visible. The orange line loops around the black hole, and after several full orbits there is a shape resembling a Venn diagram.", "items": [ { "id": 503441, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1195368, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/two_lobe_bigscreen_HD.mp4", "filename": "two_lobe_bigscreen_HD.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that features two lobes.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 492287, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158538, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/two_lobe_bigscreen.mp4", "filename": "two_lobe_bigscreen.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that features two lobes.", "width": 3840, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8294400 } }, { "id": 492312, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158559, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/frames/3840x3840_1x1_30fps/two_lobe_gridtilt_glow/", "filename": "two_lobe_gridtilt_glow", "media_type": "Frames", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that resembles a bird’s nest.", "width": 3840, "height": 3840, "pixels": 14745600 } }, { "id": 492362, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1195366, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/two_lobe_bigscreen2.png", "filename": "two_lobe_bigscreen2.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that features two lobes.", "width": 1920, "height": 1065, "pixels": 2044800 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 378936, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5586/#media_group_378936", "widget": "Video player", "title": "Two-Lobe Inspiral (Top, Side, and Front Views)", "caption": "Same as above showing three views. The main panel shows the system from the top, while the two smaller panels show side and front views.", "description": "Video description: This visualization shows three views of the orbit traced by a compact stellar object around a supermassive black hole. The main view on the left is labeled “Two-Lobe Inspiral” and “top view.” On the right are smaller views labeled “front view” on top and “side view” on the bottom. In all views, a black sphere at the center with a teal outline marks the black hole. As the video progresses, an orange line traces the movement of the stellar remnant. In the main view, the orange line loops around the black hole, and after several full orbits there is a shape resembling a Venn diagram. The front and side views don’t change much throughout, showing the orange trail extending back and forth along a horizontal line.", "items": [ { "id": 503440, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1195367, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/two_lobe_windows3_HD.mp4", "filename": "two_lobe_windows3_HD.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Three views of a visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that features two lobes.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 492289, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158539, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/two_lobe_windows3.mp4", "filename": "two_lobe_windows3.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Three views of a visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that features two lobes.", "width": 3840, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8294400 } }, { "id": 492321, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158563, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/frames/3840x3840_1x1_30fps/two_lobe_front_glow/", "filename": "two_lobe_front_glow", "media_type": "Frames", "alt_text": "Three views of a visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that features two lobes.", "width": 3840, "height": 3840, "pixels": 14745600 } }, { "id": 492340, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158579, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/frames/3840x3840_1x1_30fps/two_lobe_top_glow/", "filename": "two_lobe_top_glow", "media_type": "Frames", "alt_text": "Three views of a visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that features two lobes.", "width": 3840, "height": 3840, "pixels": 14745600 } }, { "id": 492341, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158580, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/frames/3840x3840_1x1_30fps/two_lobe_side_glow/", "filename": "two_lobe_side_glow", "media_type": "Frames", "alt_text": "Three views of a visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that features two lobes.", "width": 3840, "height": 3840, "pixels": 14745600 } }, { "id": 492345, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158583, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/two_lobe_windows3.png", "filename": "two_lobe_windows3.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Three views of a visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that features two lobes.", "width": 1920, "height": 1063, "pixels": 2040960 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 378937, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5586/#media_group_378937", "widget": "Video player", "title": "Late-stage Inspiral (Moving Camera)", "caption": "A compact stellar remnant like a white dwarf, neutron star, or small black hole orbits a supermassive black hole spinning at 80% of maximum in this visualization. The stellar remnant travels opposite the direction of the black hole’s spin, alternating between large and small loops and from above resembling a three-petal flower. The full video would represent about 79 hours for a supermassive black hole like the one at the center of the Milky Way; longer for a larger black hole, shorter for a less massive one.", "description": "Video description: This visualization shows the orbit traced by a compact stellar object around a supermassive black hole. A black sphere at the center with a teal outline marks the black hole, while white streaks indicate its spin. A purple line just outside the black hole shows the ergosphere. As the video progresses, an orange line traces the movement of the stellar remnant. The traced line remains for a few seconds then fades. The visualization starts with an edge-on view of the system. The orange trail darts above and below the plane as it alternately makes small loops and large arcing swings around the black hole. As the camera pans, rising to show the system from above, the complex pattern continues, showing three large lobes around the black hole, with smaller spirals closer in.", "items": [ { "id": 503442, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1195369, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/late_stage_bigscreen_HD.mp4", "filename": "late_stage_bigscreen_HD.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that resembles a bird’s nest.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 492290, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1195247, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/late_stage_bigscreen.mp4", "filename": "late_stage_bigscreen.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that resembles a bird’s nest.", "width": 3840, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8294400 } }, { "id": 492313, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158558, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/frames/3840x3840_1x1_30fps/three_lobe_gridtilt_glow/", "filename": "three_lobe_gridtilt_glow", "media_type": "Frames", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that resembles a bird’s nest.", "width": 3840, "height": 3840, "pixels": 14745600 } }, { "id": 492363, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1195251, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/late_stage_bigscreen.png", "filename": "late_stage_bigscreen.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that resembles a bird’s nest.", "width": 1920, "height": 1065, "pixels": 2044800 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 378938, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5586/#media_group_378938", "widget": "Video player", "title": "Late-stage Inspiral (Top, Side, and Front Views)", "caption": "Same as above showing three views. The main view shows the system from the top, while the two smaller panels show side and front views.", "description": "Video description: The main panel on the left is labeled “Late-stage Inspiral” and “top view.” On the right are smaller panels labeled “front view” on top and “side view” on the bottom. In all views, a black sphere at the center with a teal outline marks the black hole, while white streaks indicate its spin. A purple line just outside the black hole shows the ergosphere. As the video progresses, an orange line traces the movement of the stellar remnant. The traced line remains for a few seconds then fades. In the main view, the compact stellar object alternately makes small loops and large arcing swings around the black hole. After several orbits, the pattern looks like three large lobes around the black hole, with smaller spirals closer in. In the side and front views, the orange trail darts above and below the plane as the stellar object loops around the black hole.", "items": [ { "id": 503443, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1195370, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/late_stage_windows3_HD.mp4", "filename": "late_stage_windows3_HD.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Three views of a visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that features three lobes.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 492291, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1195262, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/late_stage_windows3.mp4", "filename": "late_stage_windows3.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Three views of a visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that features three lobes.", "width": 3840, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8294400 } }, { "id": 492322, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158561, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/frames/3840x3840_1x1_30fps/three_lobe_top_glow/", "filename": "three_lobe_top_glow", "media_type": "Frames", "alt_text": "Three views of a visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that features three lobes.", "width": 3840, "height": 3840, "pixels": 14745600 } }, { "id": 492323, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158562, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/frames/3840x3840_1x1_30fps/three_lobe_side_glow/", "filename": "three_lobe_side_glow", "media_type": "Frames", "alt_text": "Three views of a visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that features three lobes.", "width": 3840, "height": 3840, "pixels": 14745600 } }, { "id": 492324, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158581, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/frames/3840x3840_1x1_30fps/three_lobe_front_glow/", "filename": "three_lobe_front_glow", "media_type": "Frames", "alt_text": "Three views of a visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that features three lobes.", "width": 3840, "height": 3840, "pixels": 14745600 } }, { "id": 492346, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1195263, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/late_stage_windows3.png", "filename": "late_stage_windows3.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Three views of a visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that features three lobes.", "width": 1920, "height": 1065, "pixels": 2044800 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 378939, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5586/#media_group_378939", "widget": "Video player", "title": "Five-Lobe Inspiral (Moving Camera)", "caption": "A compact stellar remnant like a white dwarf, neutron star, or small black hole orbits a non-spinning supermassive black hole. The orbit stays within a plane and repeats over time to create five prominent lobes around the black hole. The full video would represent about 62 hours for a supermassive black hole like the one at the center of the Milky Way; longer for a larger black hole, shorter for a less massive one.", "description": "Video description: This visualization shows the orbit traced by a compact stellar object around a supermassive black hole. A black sphere outlined in teal at the center marks the black hole. As the video progresses, an orange line traces the movement of the stellar remnant. The visualization starts by showing an edge-on view of the system. The orange trail extends back and forth along a central horizontal line. As the camera pans, rising to show the system from the top, the orbital pattern comes into view. The orange line loops around the black hole, dipping in close then swinging around in a wider arc. After several full orbits, the pattern resembles a five-petal flower.", "items": [ { "id": 503453, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1195381, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/five_lobe_bigscreen_HD.mp4", "filename": "five_lobe_bigscreen_HD.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that features five lobes.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 492292, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158542, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/five_lobe_bigscreen.mp4", "filename": "five_lobe_bigscreen.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that features five lobes.", "width": 3840, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8294400 } }, { "id": 492314, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158555, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/frames/3840x3840_1x1_30fps/five_lobe_gridtilt_glow/", "filename": "five_lobe_gridtilt_glow", "media_type": "Frames", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that resembles a bird’s nest.", "width": 3840, "height": 3840, "pixels": 14745600 } }, { "id": 492357, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158591, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/five_lobe_bigscreen.png", "filename": "five_lobe_bigscreen.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that features five lobes.", "width": 1920, "height": 1065, "pixels": 2044800 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 378940, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5586/#media_group_378940", "widget": "Video player", "title": "Five-Lobe Inspiral (Top, Side, and Front Views)", "caption": "Same as above showing three views. The main panel shows the system from the top, while the two smaller panels show side and front views.", "description": "Video description: This visualization shows the orbit traced by a compact stellar object around a supermassive black hole. A black sphere outlined in teal at the center marks the black hole. As the video progresses, an orange line traces the movement of the stellar remnant. The visualization starts by showing an edge-on view of the system. The orange trail extends back and forth along a central horizontal line. As the camera pans, rising to show the system from the top, the orbital pattern comes into view. The orange line loops around the black hole, dipping in close then swinging around in a wider arc. After several full orbits, the pattern resembles a five-petal flower.", "items": [ { "id": 503452, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1195380, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/five_lobe_windows3_HD.mp4", "filename": "five_lobe_windows3_HD.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Three views of a visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that features five lobes.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 492293, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158543, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/five_lobe_windows3.mp4", "filename": "five_lobe_windows3.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Three views of a visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that features five lobes.", "width": 3840, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8294400 } }, { "id": 492325, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158564, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/frames/3840x3840_1x1_30fps/five_lobe_top_glow/", "filename": "five_lobe_top_glow", "media_type": "Frames", "alt_text": "Three views of a visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that features five lobes.", "width": 3840, "height": 3840, "pixels": 14745600 } }, { "id": 492326, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158565, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/frames/3840x3840_1x1_30fps/five_lobe_side_glow/", "filename": "five_lobe_side_glow", "media_type": "Frames", "alt_text": "Three views of a visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that features five lobes.", "width": 3840, "height": 3840, "pixels": 14745600 } }, { "id": 492327, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158566, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/frames/3840x3840_1x1_30fps/five_lobe_front_glow/", "filename": "five_lobe_front_glow", "media_type": "Frames", "alt_text": "Three views of a visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that features five lobes.", "width": 3840, "height": 3840, "pixels": 14745600 } }, { "id": 492347, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158585, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/five_lobe_windows3.png", "filename": "five_lobe_windows3.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Three views of a visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that features five lobes.", "width": 1920, "height": 1064, "pixels": 2042880 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 378941, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5586/#media_group_378941", "widget": "Video player", "title": "Bird's Nest Inspiral (Moving Camera)", "caption": "A compact stellar remnant like a white dwarf, neutron star, or small black hole orbits a supermassive black hole spinning at 50% of maximum in this visualization. The stellar remnant spends most of its orbits close to the black hole, occasionally making a larger orbit. Taken together, the close-in orbits resemble a tightly woven nest. The full video would represent about 50 hours for a supermassive black hole like the one at the center of the Milky Way; longer for a larger black hole, shorter for a less massive one.", "description": "Video description: This visualization shows the orbit traced by a compact stellar object around a supermassive black hole. A black sphere outlined in teal at the center marks the black hole, while white streaks indicate its spin. A purple line just outside the black hole shows the ergosphere. As the video progresses, an orange line traces the movement of the stellar remnant. The traced line remains for a few seconds then fades. The visualization starts with an edge-on view of the system. The orange trail darts above and below the plane as it alternately makes several small loops around the black hole and then a large arcing swing. As the camera pans, rising to show the system from the top, the complex pattern continues. Taken together, the small loops form a tangled mess that forms a rough, squat cylinder around the black hole.", "items": [ { "id": 503451, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1195379, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/birds_nest_bigscreen_HD.mp4", "filename": "birds_nest_bigscreen_HD.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that resembles a bird’s nest.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 492294, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158544, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/birds_nest_bigscreen.mp4", "filename": "birds_nest_bigscreen.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that resembles a bird’s nest.", "width": 3840, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8294400 } }, { "id": 492315, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158554, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/frames/3840x3840_1x1_30fps/birds_nest_gridtilt_glow/", "filename": "birds_nest_gridtilt_glow", "media_type": "Frames", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that resembles a bird’s nest.", "width": 3840, "height": 3840, "pixels": 14745600 } }, { "id": 492358, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1195371, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/birds_nest_bigscreen2.png", "filename": "birds_nest_bigscreen2.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that resembles a bird’s nest.", "width": 1920, "height": 1065, "pixels": 2044800 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 378942, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5586/#media_group_378942", "widget": "Video player", "title": "Bird's Nest Inspiral (Top, Side, and Front Views)", "caption": "Same as above showing three views. The main view shows the system from the top, while the two smaller panels show side and front views.", "description": "Video description: This visualization shows three views of a supermassive black hole orbited by a compact stellar remnant. The main view on the left is labeled “Bird’s Nest Inspiral” and “top view.” On the right are smaller views labeled “front view” on top and “side view” on the bottom. In all views, a black sphere outlined in teal at the center marks the black hole, while white streaks indicate its spin. A purple line just outside the black hole shows the ergosphere. As the video progresses, an orange line traces the movement of the stellar remnant. The traced line remains for a few seconds then fades. The top view shows the stellar remnant making several small loops around the black hole followed by a large arcing swing, then repeating with the small loops. In the side and front views, the orange trail darts above and below the plane as the stellar object loops around the black hole. Taken together, the small loops form a tangled mess that forms a rough, squat cylinder around the black hole.", "items": [ { "id": 503450, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1195378, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/birds_nest_windows3_HD.mp4", "filename": "birds_nest_windows3_HD.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Three views of a visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that resembles a bird’s nest.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 492295, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158545, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/birds_nest_windows3.mp4", "filename": "birds_nest_windows3.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Three views of a visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that resembles a bird’s nest.", "width": 3840, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8294400 } }, { "id": 492328, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158567, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/frames/3840x3840_1x1_30fps/birds_nest_top_glow/", "filename": "birds_nest_top_glow", "media_type": "Frames", "alt_text": "Three views of a visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that resembles a bird’s nest.", "width": 3840, "height": 3840, "pixels": 14745600 } }, { "id": 492329, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158568, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/frames/3840x3840_1x1_30fps/birds_nest_side_glow/", "filename": "birds_nest_side_glow", "media_type": "Frames", "alt_text": "Three views of a visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that resembles a bird’s nest.", "width": 3840, "height": 3840, "pixels": 14745600 } }, { "id": 492330, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158569, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/frames/3840x3840_1x1_30fps/birds_nest_front_glow/", "filename": "birds_nest_front_glow", "media_type": "Frames", "alt_text": "Three views of a visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that resembles a bird’s nest.", "width": 3840, "height": 3840, "pixels": 14745600 } }, { "id": 492351, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158586, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/birds_nest_windows3.png", "filename": "birds_nest_windows3.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Three views of a visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that resembles a bird’s nest.", "width": 1920, "height": 1065, "pixels": 2044800 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 378943, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5586/#media_group_378943", "widget": "Video player", "title": "Retrograde Plunge Inspiral (Moving Camera)", "caption": "A compact stellar remnant like a white dwarf, neutron star, or small black hole orbits a supermassive black hole spinning at 80% of maximum in this visualization. The stellar remnant’s orbit is opposite the direction of the black hole’s spin, at least until just before the remnant plunges into the black hole. When the stellar remnant reaches the ergosphere, its orbit immediately changes direction as it is swept up in the spinning space-time. The full video would represent about 9 hours for a supermassive black hole like the one at the center of the Milky Way; longer for a larger black hole, shorter for a less massive one.", "description": "Video description: This visualization shows the orbit traced by a compact stellar object just as it plunges into a supermassive black hole. A black sphere outlined in teal at the center marks the black hole, while white streaks indicate its spin. A purple line just outside the black hole shows the ergosphere. As the video progresses, an orange line traces the movement of the stellar remnant, which is traveling opposite the direction of the black hole’s spin. The traced line remains for a few seconds then fades. The visualization starts with an edge-on view of the system, then pans to show the top-down view. The orange line starts by tracing several orbits close to the black hole, forming what looks like a tangled, squat cylinder around the black hole. Then it swings wide for several orbits before orbiting close to the black hole again. One final orbit brings the path inside the black hole’s ergosphere where the orbit immediately changes direction and darts into the black hole.", "items": [ { "id": 503449, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1195377, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/retrograde_plunge_bigscreen_HD.mp4", "filename": "retrograde_plunge_bigscreen_HD.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral with a stellar remnant orbiting opposite the black hole’s spin.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 492296, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158546, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/retrograde_plunge_bigscreen.mp4", "filename": "retrograde_plunge_bigscreen.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral with a stellar remnant orbiting opposite the black hole’s spin.", "width": 3840, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8294400 } }, { "id": 492316, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158556, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/frames/3840x3840_1x1_30fps/retrograde_plunge_gridtilt_glow/", "filename": "retrograde_plunge_gridtilt_glow", "media_type": "Frames", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that resembles a bird’s nest.", "width": 3840, "height": 3840, "pixels": 14745600 } }, { "id": 492359, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158593, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/retrograde_plunge_bigscreen.png", "filename": "retrograde_plunge_bigscreen.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral with a stellar remnant orbiting opposite the black hole’s spin.", "width": 1920, "height": 1065, "pixels": 2044800 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 378944, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5586/#media_group_378944", "widget": "Video player", "title": "Retrograde Plunge Inspiral (Top, Side, and Front Views)", "caption": "Same as above showing three views. The main panel shows the system from the top, while the two smaller panels show side and front views.", "description": "Video description: This visualization shows three views of a supermassive black hole orbited by a compact stellar remnant. The main view on the left is labeled “Retrograde Plunge Inspiral” and “top view.” On the right are smaller views labeled “front view” on top and “side view” on the bottom. In all views, a black sphere outlined in teal at the center marks the black hole, while white streaks indicate its spin. A purple line just outside the black hole shows the ergosphere. As the video progresses, an orange line traces the movement of the stellar remnant, which is traveling opposite the direction of the black hole’s spin. The traced line remains for a few seconds then fades. The orange line starts by tracing several orbits close to the black hole, forming what looks like a tangled, squat cylinder around the black hole. Then it swings wide for several orbits before orbiting close to the black hole again. One final orbit brings the path inside the black hole’s ergosphere where the orbit immediately changes direction and darts into the black hole.", "items": [ { "id": 503448, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1195376, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/retrograde_plunge_windows3_HD.mp4", "filename": "retrograde_plunge_windows3_HD.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Three views of a visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral with a stellar remnant orbiting opposite the black hole’s spin.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 492297, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158547, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/retrograde_plunge_windows3.mp4", "filename": "retrograde_plunge_windows3.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Three views of a visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral with a stellar remnant orbiting opposite the black hole’s spin.", "width": 3840, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8294400 } }, { "id": 492331, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158570, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/frames/3840x3840_1x1_30fps/retrograde_plunge_top_glow/", "filename": "retrograde_plunge_top_glow", "media_type": "Frames", "alt_text": "Three views of a visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral with a stellar remnant orbiting opposite the black hole’s spin.", "width": 3840, "height": 3840, "pixels": 14745600 } }, { "id": 492332, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158571, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/frames/3840x3840_1x1_30fps/retrograde_plunge_side_glow/", "filename": "retrograde_plunge_side_glow", "media_type": "Frames", "alt_text": "Three views of a visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral with a stellar remnant orbiting opposite the black hole’s spin.", "width": 3840, "height": 3840, "pixels": 14745600 } }, { "id": 492333, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158572, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/frames/3840x3840_1x1_30fps/retrograde_plunge_front_glow/", "filename": "retrograde_plunge_front_glow", "media_type": "Frames", "alt_text": "Three views of a visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral with a stellar remnant orbiting opposite the black hole’s spin.", "width": 3840, "height": 3840, "pixels": 14745600 } }, { "id": 492350, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158587, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/retrograde_plunge_windows3.png", "filename": "retrograde_plunge_windows3.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Three views of a visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral with a stellar remnant orbiting opposite the black hole’s spin.", "width": 1920, "height": 1064, "pixels": 2042880 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 378945, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5586/#media_group_378945", "widget": "Video player", "title": "Spherical Inspiral (Moving Camera)", "caption": "A compact stellar remnant like a white dwarf, neutron star, or small black hole orbits a supermassive black hole spinning at 80% of maximum in this visualization. The stellar remnant stays at the same distance from the black hole, tracing out a spherical shape over many orbits. The full video would represent about 31 hours for a supermassive black hole like the one at the center of the Milky Way; longer for a larger black hole, shorter for a less massive one.", "description": "Video description: This visualization shows the orbit traced by a compact stellar object around a supermassive black hole. A black sphere outlined in teal at the center marks the black hole, while white streaks indicate its spin. A purple line just outside the black hole shows the ergosphere. As the video progresses, an orange line traces the movement of the stellar remnant. The traced line remains for a few seconds then fades. The visualization starts with an edge-on view of the system. In this view, the orange trail darts above and below the black hole as it loops around the black hole. Each loop remains at the same distance from the black hole, precessing around the black hole. As the camera pans, rising to show the system from the top, the complex pattern continues. Taken together, the loops form a tangled mess that all sit on the surface of an imaginary sphere surrounding the black hole.", "items": [ { "id": 503447, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1195375, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/spherical_bigscreen_HD.mp4", "filename": "spherical_bigscreen_HD.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that traces a sphere.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 492298, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158548, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/spherical_bigscreen.mp4", "filename": "spherical_bigscreen.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that traces a sphere.", "width": 3840, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8294400 } }, { "id": 492317, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158557, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/frames/3840x3840_1x1_30fps/spherical_gridtilt_glow/", "filename": "spherical_gridtilt_glow", "media_type": "Frames", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that resembles a bird’s nest.", "width": 3840, "height": 3840, "pixels": 14745600 } }, { "id": 492360, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158594, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/spherical_bigscreen.png", "filename": "spherical_bigscreen.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that traces a sphere.", "width": 1920, "height": 1066, "pixels": 2046720 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 378946, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5586/#media_group_378946", "widget": "Video player", "title": "Spherical Inspiral (Top, Side, and Front Views)", "caption": "Same as above showing three views. The main panel shows the system from the top, while the two smaller panels show the side and front views.", "description": "Video description: This visualization shows three views of a supermassive black hole orbited by a compact stellar remnant. The main view on the left is labeled “Spherical Inspiral” and “top view.” On the right are smaller views labeled “front view” on top and “side view” on the bottom. In all views, a black sphere outlined in teal at the center marks the black hole, while white streaks indicate its spin. A purple line just outside the black hole shows the ergosphere. As the video progresses, an orange line traces the movement of the stellar remnant. The traced line remains for a few seconds then fades. Each loop remains at the same distance from the black hole, precessing around the black hole. In the top view, taken together, these orbits look like a flower with many small petals. In the side and front view, the loops form a tangled mess that all sit on the surface of an imaginary sphere surrounding the black hole.", "items": [ { "id": 503446, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1195374, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/spherical_windows3_HD.mp4", "filename": "spherical_windows3_HD.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Three views of a visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that traces a sphere.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 492299, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158549, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/spherical_windows3.mp4", "filename": "spherical_windows3.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Three views of a visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that traces a sphere.", "width": 3840, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8294400 } }, { "id": 492334, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158573, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/frames/3840x3840_1x1_30fps/spherical_top_glow/", "filename": "spherical_top_glow", "media_type": "Frames", "alt_text": "Three views of a visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that traces a sphere.", "width": 3840, "height": 3840, "pixels": 14745600 } }, { "id": 492335, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158574, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/frames/3840x3840_1x1_30fps/spherical_side_glow/", "filename": "spherical_side_glow", "media_type": "Frames", "alt_text": "Three views of a visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that traces a sphere.", "width": 3840, "height": 3840, "pixels": 14745600 } }, { "id": 492336, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158575, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/frames/3840x3840_1x1_30fps/spherical_front_glow/", "filename": "spherical_front_glow", "media_type": "Frames", "alt_text": "Three views of a visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that traces a sphere.", "width": 3840, "height": 3840, "pixels": 14745600 } }, { "id": 492352, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158588, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/spherical_windows3.png", "filename": "spherical_windows3.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Three views of a visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that traces a sphere.", "width": 1920, "height": 1065, "pixels": 2044800 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 378947, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5586/#media_group_378947", "widget": "Video player", "title": "Zoom-Whirl Inspiral (Moving Camera)", "caption": "A compact stellar remnant like a white dwarf, neutron star, or small black hole orbits a supermassive black hole spinning at 80% of maximum in this visualization. The stellar remnant alternates between a small loop around the black hole and a large, arcing one. The full video would represent about 93 hours for a supermassive black hole like the one at the center of the Milky Way; longer for a larger black hole, shorter for a less massive one.", "description": "Video description: This visualization shows the orbit traced by a compact stellar object around a supermassive black hole. A black sphere outlined in teal at the center marks the black hole, while white streaks indicate its spin. A purple line just outside the black hole shows the ergosphere. As the video progresses, an orange line traces the movement of the stellar remnant. The traced line remains for a few seconds then fades. The visualization starts with an edge-on view of the system. The orange trail darts above and below the plane as it alternately makes a small loop around the black hole and then a large, arcing swing. As the camera pans, rising to show the system from above, the complex pattern continues. The shape and angle of the orbits change over time, tilting in different directions as the pattern of small and large loops continues.", "items": [ { "id": 503445, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1195373, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/zoom_whirl_bigscreen_HD.mp4", "filename": "zoom_whirl_bigscreen_HD.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that alternates between small and large loops around the black hole.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 492300, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158550, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/zoom_whirl_bigscreen.mp4", "filename": "zoom_whirl_bigscreen.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that alternates between small and large loops around the black hole.", "width": 3840, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8294400 } }, { "id": 492318, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158560, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/frames/3840x3840_1x1_30fps/zoom_whirl_gridtilt_glow/", "filename": "zoom_whirl_gridtilt_glow", "media_type": "Frames", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that resembles a bird’s nest.", "width": 3840, "height": 3840, "pixels": 14745600 } }, { "id": 492361, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158590, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/zoom_whirl_bigscreen.png", "filename": "zoom_whirl_bigscreen.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that alternates between small and large loops around the black hole.", "width": 1920, "height": 1065, "pixels": 2044800 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 378948, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5586/#media_group_378948", "widget": "Video player", "title": "Zoom-Whirl Inspiral (Top, Side, and Front Views)", "caption": "Same as above showing three views. The main view shows the system from the top, while the two smaller panels show side and front views.", "description": "Video description: This visualization shows three views of a supermassive black hole orbited by a compact stellar remnant. The main view on the left is labeled “Zoom-Whirl Inspiral” and “top view.” On the right are smaller views labeled “front view” on top and “side view” on the bottom. In all views, a black sphere outlined in teal at the center marks the black hole, while white streaks indicate its spin. A purple line just outside the black hole shows the ergosphere. As the video progresses, an orange line traces the movement of the stellar remnant. The traced line remains for a few seconds then fades. The visualization starts with an edge-on view of the system. In this view, the orange trail darts above and below the plane as it alternately makes a small loop around the black hole and then a large, arcing swing. The top view shows the large and small ovals that form around the black hole, while the changing tilt of the orbit is evident from the side and front views.", "items": [ { "id": 503444, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1195372, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/zoom_whirl_windows3_HD.mp4", "filename": "zoom_whirl_windows3_HD.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that alternates between small and large loops around the black hole.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } }, { "id": 492301, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158551, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/zoom_whirl_windows3.mp4", "filename": "zoom_whirl_windows3.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that alternates between small and large loops around the black hole.", "width": 3840, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8294400 } }, { "id": 492337, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158576, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/frames/3840x3840_1x1_30fps/zoom_whirl_top_glow/", "filename": "zoom_whirl_top_glow", "media_type": "Frames", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that alternates between small and large loops around the black hole.", "width": 3840, "height": 3840, "pixels": 14745600 } }, { "id": 492338, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158577, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/frames/3840x3840_1x1_30fps/zoom_whirl_side_glow/", "filename": "zoom_whirl_side_glow", "media_type": "Frames", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that alternates between small and large loops around the black hole.", "width": 3840, "height": 3840, "pixels": 14745600 } }, { "id": 492339, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158578, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/frames/3840x3840_1x1_30fps/zoom_whirl_front_glow/", "filename": "zoom_whirl_front_glow", "media_type": "Frames", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that alternates between small and large loops around the black hole.", "width": 3840, "height": 3840, "pixels": 14745600 } }, { "id": 492353, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": "", "instance": { "id": 1158589, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a000000/a005500/a005586/zoom_whirl_windows3.png", "filename": "zoom_whirl_windows3.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Visualization of an extreme mass ratio inspiral orbit that alternates between small and large loops around the black hole.", "width": 1920, "height": 1066, "pixels": 2046720 } } ], "extra_data": {} } ], "studio": "svs", "funding_sources": [], "credits": [ { "role": "Data visualizer", "people": [ { "name": "Alex Kekesi", "employer": "Global Science and Technology, Inc." }, { "name": "AJ Christensen", "employer": "SSAI" } ] }, { "role": "Consultant", "people": [ { "name": "Mark SubbaRao", "employer": "NASA/GSFC" } ] }, { "role": "Science writer", "people": [ { "name": "Barb Mattson", "employer": "University of Maryland College Park" } ] }, { "role": "Producer", "people": [ { "name": "Scott Wiessinger", "employer": "eMITS" } ] }, { "role": "Scientist", "people": [ { "name": "Jeremy Schnittman", "employer": "NASA/GSFC" }, { "name": "Courtney McIntosh", "employer": null } ] } ], "missions": [], "series": [], "tapes": [], "papers": [], "datasets": [], "nasa_science_categories": [ "Universe" ], "keywords": [ "Black Hole", "Computer Model", "Ergosphere", "Inspiral" ], "recommended_pages": [], "related": [ { "id": 14955, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14955/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "NASA Tests LISA Development Units", "description": "A prototype charge management device for the future LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) mission sits on a lab bench at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The device will reduce the buildup of electric charge on the gold-platinum test masses that float freely inside each of the three LISA spacecraft. The University of Florida in Gainesville and Fibertek Inc. in McNair, Virginia, are developing the device. Credit: NASA/Dennis HenryAlt text: An instrument rests on a lab bench.Image description: A silver box with red and black connector caps on one side rests on a white lab bench with a blue mat on top. Three black cables connect to the box and another yellow cable curls around it. || GSFC_20250602_LISA_006584.jpg (8098x5399) [11.3 MB] || ", "release_date": "2026-01-27T09:00:00-05:00", "update_date": "2025-02-18T10:38:59.752697-05:00", "main_image": { "id": 1196173, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014900/a014955/LISA_TVAC-9_searchweb.png", "filename": "LISA_TVAC-9_searchweb.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "A prototype laser optical module for LISA rests on a table after testing at NASA Goddard. Xiaozhen Xu, an engineer with Miller Engineering and Research Corp., works in the background. The smaller box to the right is the laser electronics module. \rCredit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\rAlt text: Spacecraft components configured for testing rest on a table.\rImage description: A silver rectangular box rests on a stainless-steel table inside a clean room. It has four rows of 13 indentations in the side facing the camera. Different colored wires and optical fibers connect to the box, and a few are fixed to the side with yellow tape. To right of the silver box is a smaller box with cables in a sleeve of silver-colored material. Behind the table is a large cylindrical silver vacuum chamber with its door slightly ajar. A person in a white clean room suit works in front of the chamber. ", "width": 320, "height": 180, "pixels": 57600 } } ], "sources": [], "products": [], "newer_versions": [], "older_versions": [], "alternate_versions": [] }