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This computer simulation shows two supermassive black holes orbiting each other.
It's helping scientists learn what kind of light a real black hole binary system might produce.
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An outer ring of gas surrounds the whole system,
and a mini disk surrounds each black hole.
Streams of gas connect the disks.
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Magnetic and gravitational forces heat up the gas,
Producing UV and X-ray light.
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The amount of gas flowing in the system
and our viewing angle
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can alter what we'll see.
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Intense gravity bends space-time.
The light follows a warped path and is distorted, as with a lens.
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This also creates an "eyebrow" next to one black hole
caused by light from glowing gas immediately outside the other.
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Scientists haven't yet seen a supermassive black hole merger,
but simulations like this are preparing them for what they'll find.
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NASA Astrophysics
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