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For most purposes, no, black holes themselves are not visible. Black holes absorb everything near them, including light. Light needs to originate from an object or strike an object and reflect from it and to your eyes in order for you to see it. Light that enters a black hole can never leave. Since black holes do not emit light or any form of electromagnetic radiation, it is impossible for astronomers to observe them directly. However, matter falling into a black hole can become superheated and emit light and x-rays before falling past the point from which nothing can return. We can detect this radiation.
Theoretically, you could also see the event horizon of a black hole if you got close enough; it would appear as a completely black sphere against a background of stars. The light from stars behind the black hole would be highly distorted, as can be seen in the image above.
Wiki User
∙ 8y ago
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoBlack holes are invisible because space is black and so is black holes, but when the black hole consumes a star, you can see the light around the black hole. That is when you know something strange is happening in the middle of all that light.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoTechnically, yes and no. You can't actually see the black hole itself since it absorbs all light, but you can see areas where a black hole might be. Look for areas where the is a huge absence of light (do this in the country where there is no light pollution. Light pollution messes this up), most likely, that's where a black hole it.
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoYou can't see a black hole directly, because light can't escape. However, you can see the effects of the black hole, like the things that are getting sucked into it.
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What does it look like to go near a black hole?
You might think it would look amazing and scary! But... no. Black holes suck in light so it is not visible.
Which is the biggest known black hole in the universe?
The supermassive black hole that hosts the galaxy NGC 1277, in the constellation Perseus, is currently the largest black hole in our visible universe with a mass equivalent to 17 billion suns. In 2012, astronomers have discovered this small galaxy about 250 million light-years from Earth.
13 Stars often occur in pairs revolving around their common center of mass If one of the stars is a black hole it is visible Explain how the existence of such a black hole might be inferred from?
Einstein's theory of the fabric of space that each planet has its own gravity that makes an indention the fabric of space depending on the amount of gravity, well a black hole is an infinite indention.
Why are black hole?
A black hole is called a black hole because due to its density and therefore intense gravity, nothing, not even light, can escape it. Though it has extreme mass, it is not a light source, and it will not reflect any light, so it appears as a "black hole" in the universe.As a black hole has massive gravity, light from objects behind it will "bend" around the black hole and an observer will see what is called gravitational lensing. The effect of the lensing will be greatly pronounced because a black hole deforms space-time dramatically. A black hole is a point in space where something is, but because the "thing" that is there generates extreme gravity, it will not be visible under any conditions. It was natural to apply the term black hole to this phenomenon.Because, the huge gravitational forces inside the black hole ensure nothing - not even light - can escape.
What does a black hole do with what it suck in?
The material sucked in to a black hole becomes part of the black hole - that is, a black hole crushes matter to an nearly no size, at all.
Could you see a black hole if you were on the moon?
No. The gravitational field of a black hole is so great that electromagnetic radiation in the visible spectrum does not escape from them. Therefore, you couldn't directly see a black hole regardless of where you were in the universe.
What does it look like to go near a black hole?
You might think it would look amazing and scary! But... no. Black holes suck in light so it is not visible.
Which is the biggest known black hole in the universe?
The supermassive black hole that hosts the galaxy NGC 1277, in the constellation Perseus, is currently the largest black hole in our visible universe with a mass equivalent to 17 billion suns. In 2012, astronomers have discovered this small galaxy about 250 million light-years from Earth.
How can you see a black hole?
You cannot see a black hole directly. Which is probably just as well, since if you were close enough to see it, you would already be dead and fried by the radiation surrounding it. We can DETECT a black hole by that very radiation - the radiation generated as matter is accelerated to nearly the speed of light as it falls into the black hole. In fact, the first black hole ever identified, Cygus X-1, was detected by being a bright X-ray source with no visible star to account for it.
A collapsed star from which light cannot escape?
The collapses star gets squeezed by collapses gas and turns into a black hole.
What is the difference between a Scchwarzschild and a Kerr black hole?
A Schwarzschild black hole is a non-rotating black hole. The Kerr black hole is a rotating black hole. Since the latter is more complicated to describe, it was developed much later.A Schwarzschild black hole is a non-rotating black hole. The Kerr black hole is a rotating black hole. Since the latter is more complicated to describe, it was developed much later.A Schwarzschild black hole is a non-rotating black hole. The Kerr black hole is a rotating black hole. Since the latter is more complicated to describe, it was developed much later.A Schwarzschild black hole is a non-rotating black hole. The Kerr black hole is a rotating black hole. Since the latter is more complicated to describe, it was developed much later.
How do scientists know black holes exist if these objects don't emit visible light?
They don't directly emit light, but anything falling into them will emit strong electromagnetic radiation - due to the acceleration of the matter falling into the black hole. Also, the black hole attracts all matter near it.
What does the black hole do to the star?
A black hole originated as a star, that is, the star converted to a black hole.
13 Stars often occur in pairs revolving around their common center of mass If one of the stars is a black hole it is visible Explain how the existence of such a black hole might be inferred from?
Einstein's theory of the fabric of space that each planet has its own gravity that makes an indention the fabric of space depending on the amount of gravity, well a black hole is an infinite indention.
What does a black hole do with what it suck in?
The material sucked in to a black hole becomes part of the black hole - that is, a black hole crushes matter to an nearly no size, at all.
What is the photosphere of the sun?
The photosphere is the visible surface of a star, such as the Sun. It consists of a zone in which the gaseous layers change from being completely opaque to radiation, to being transparent. For example, the photosphere of the Sun is the layer from which the light we actually see (with the human eye) is emitted.
Why are black hole?
A black hole is called a black hole because due to its density and therefore intense gravity, nothing, not even light, can escape it. Though it has extreme mass, it is not a light source, and it will not reflect any light, so it appears as a "black hole" in the universe.As a black hole has massive gravity, light from objects behind it will "bend" around the black hole and an observer will see what is called gravitational lensing. The effect of the lensing will be greatly pronounced because a black hole deforms space-time dramatically. A black hole is a point in space where something is, but because the "thing" that is there generates extreme gravity, it will not be visible under any conditions. It was natural to apply the term black hole to this phenomenon.Because, the huge gravitational forces inside the black hole ensure nothing - not even light - can escape.
