Visualizing how matter falling into a black hole heats up and emits X-rays, allowing astronomers to detect otherwise invisible black holes.
Learn MotionBlack Holes: Physics, Structure, and Theory
Formation and Astrophysical Evidence
Detecting the Invisible: Accretion Disks
3 / 9
Since black holes emit no light, we detect them via accretion disks. As matter spirals inward, friction and compression heat it to millions of degrees. This superheated plasma emits intense X-rays. The closer the matter gets to the event horizon, the hotter and brighter the emission becomes.
0:00 / 0:00