Astronomers detect light behind black hole for first time

[brooklynite]

Source: The Guardian

Astronomers have detected light behind a black hole deep in space for the first time.

Bright flares of X-rays were spotted bursting from a supermassive black hole at the centre of a galaxy 800m light years away, which is relatively normal.

Researchers were studying a feature known as the corona, but telescopes also picked up unexpected “luminous echoes”. These additional flashes were smaller, later and of different colours than the bright flares.

The discovery confirms Albert Einstein’s theory on general relativity. The gravitational pull from black holes essentially bends light rays around themselves, giving scientists their first glimpse of what lies behind.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/jul/28/astronomers-detect-light-behind-black-hole-for-first-time

[Effete Snob]

1. To boldly go where the sun don't shine

[Igel]

2. The usual way the Event Horizon Telescope image of a black hole environment

a couple of years ago showed as much.

The usual image as reconstructed shows the accretion disk on either side and in front, with what looks like an accretion disk above and below. That "above and below" is really just the accretion disk on back side of the black hole, the light of which was bent.

Then there are the now fairly frequent gravitational lensing images.

I guess it's good to get the images of smaller flares bent around the beast; it implies better resolution, and that's always good.

[LudwigPastorius]

3. Cool!

[llashram]

8. yah

[StClone]

11. As light (photons) approach a Black Hole they are redirected, orbit, or enter.

He's a simulation showing the angle of light as it approaches a Black Hole and the resulting photon path depending on differing angles and proximity:

[TheProle]

4. Love it.

Thanks for the link.

[love_katz]

5. Yay! Someone finally found the light at the end of the tunnel.

Never mind. I will show myself out.

[llashram]

9. my heart giggled

thanks...

[Uncle Joe]

6. It's just a train.

Thanks for the thread brooklynite.

[keithbvadu2]

7. That's 800 million?

[llashram]

10. light years

each light year is 5.66 trillion miles or thereabouts...

[oasis]

12. Nice.