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Distortion Around a Black Hole
Copyright: R.J. Nemiroff (MTU) |
The extreme gravity around a black hole curves space-time so
that light no longer travels in a straight line. These two
computer-generated pictures highlight how strange things would look if you
got too close to a black hole. On the left is the constellation Orion.
Notice the three stars of nearly equal brightness that make up Orion's
Belt. On the right is the same constellation, this time with a black hole
in the center. The black hole has such strong gravity that light noticeably
bends towards it - causing very unusual visual distortion. Each star seems
to appear twice, once on each side of the black hole. Near a black hole,
you can actually see the whole sky because light from every direction is
bent around and comes back to you.
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