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Since black holes aren't directly visible, effects they cause have to be observed. For example, optical telescopes can detect gravitational lensing when distant objects such as galaxies emit light which bends around an intermediate object with intense gravity like a black hole. Optical telescopes can also see the powerful emissions from the relativistic polar jets powered by black holes. Telescopes sensitive to x-ray frequencies can detect the energy emitted by the accretion disk around the hole, and were historically used to locate and assist in verification of the presence of black holes; such happened in observations during the search for the first verification of the existence a black holes in the X-ray binary Cygnus X-1.

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8y ago
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14y ago

A telescope. Usually owned by an observatory, or NASA's Hubble. A black hole cannot be detected by it self..... yet, but only by the light bending around it.

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Q: What equipment is needed to detect black holes?
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How many black holes were in this galixy?

Black holes are a bit hard to detect, so I am pretty sure that not all black holes in this galaxy are known - and I suspect there is not even a decent estimate. But you can expect there to be several.


How do scientists detect black holes?

They use X-Rays from the stars being sucked into them.


What evidence do astronmers use to detect black holes?

Most of the methods to detect black holes rely on their gravitational effects. The following are ways in which black holes can be detected, at least in theory:Hawking radiation: This radiation would be way too weak to detect a stellar black hole, but it might be used to detect primordial black holes. This method hasn't been successfully applied yet; perhaps there are no primordial black holes.A black hole's gravitational effect on a neighboring object; for example, stars orbiting Sag A* make it possible not only to conclude that there is probably a black hole there, but also to estimate its mass (current estimate: about 4.3 million solar masses).Matter falling into the black hole will emit strong x-rays.An accretion disk around a black hole will heat up through friction, and also emit radiation.Gravitational lensing of objects behind the black hole also make it possible to detect a black hole in some cases (when there is a good alignment).


How do astronomers search for black holes and what are the challenges of learning about them?

There are two ways of finding black holes. They can look for the effects that their gravity has on nearby objects and they can look for X-rays emitted by matter about to fall into them. A major challenge is that black holes themselves do not emit any light, making them impossible to detect directly.


Ways you can detect black holes?

Since you can't see a black hole, scientists use a method called gravitational lensing to detect black holes. Since black holes warp space-time, the light that travels near a black hole is bent, like how a magnifying glass warps the object a little at the edges. Scientists look for unusual distortions of light caused by this effect to look for black holes.

Related questions

How can you use a spectrometer to detect black holes?

You can't use spectrometers to detect black holes. Telescopes are the only way to detect them.


How you detect black holes?

They are invisible.


How many black holes happen?

It is not known how many black holes exist. One of the main reasons is that, if matter is not actually falling into the black hole, it is impossible to detect.


How many black holes were in this galixy?

Black holes are a bit hard to detect, so I am pretty sure that not all black holes in this galaxy are known - and I suspect there is not even a decent estimate. But you can expect there to be several.


If there are no real pictures of black holes?

I am not entirely sure what the question is. Anyway, black holes cannot be seen directly. You can detect their presence due to their gravitation.


How do scientists detect black holes?

They use X-Rays from the stars being sucked into them.


Is it true that scientists believe that there is a black hole in space?

Black holes do exist - they are just VERY difficult to detect.


How do people know that there was a blackhole if they don't see it?

Scientists can detect black holes by using x-rays and gamma rays. Black holes still can release matter, and black holes give off a lot off x and gamma rays.


Black holes where can you find them?

The nearest know black hole is at a distance of several thousand light-years. There are probably black holes closer by, but they are hard to detect, if they don't happen to be part of a close binary star system.The nearest know black hole is at a distance of several thousand light-years. There are probably black holes closer by, but they are hard to detect, if they don't happen to be part of a close binary star system.The nearest know black hole is at a distance of several thousand light-years. There are probably black holes closer by, but they are hard to detect, if they don't happen to be part of a close binary star system.The nearest know black hole is at a distance of several thousand light-years. There are probably black holes closer by, but they are hard to detect, if they don't happen to be part of a close binary star system.


Why cant you see blach holes?

The whole idea of black holes is that nothing, not even light, can escape from them. However, there are several indirect ways to detect them.


What evidence do astronmers use to detect black holes?

Most of the methods to detect black holes rely on their gravitational effects. The following are ways in which black holes can be detected, at least in theory:Hawking radiation: This radiation would be way too weak to detect a stellar black hole, but it might be used to detect primordial black holes. This method hasn't been successfully applied yet; perhaps there are no primordial black holes.A black hole's gravitational effect on a neighboring object; for example, stars orbiting Sag A* make it possible not only to conclude that there is probably a black hole there, but also to estimate its mass (current estimate: about 4.3 million solar masses).Matter falling into the black hole will emit strong x-rays.An accretion disk around a black hole will heat up through friction, and also emit radiation.Gravitational lensing of objects behind the black hole also make it possible to detect a black hole in some cases (when there is a good alignment).


How can people view black holes?

Currently we are unable to view black holes directly. We can only detect them indirectly by their effects on the movement of nearby objects and by X-rays emitted from superheated matter falling into them.