Results 1 to 30 of 30

Thread: Black Hole swallows a star: First time ever seen.

  1. #1

    Default Black Hole swallows a star: First time ever seen.

    First time ever, black hole caught consuming light from a star.

    For the first time, a black hole has been caught in the act of tearing apart and swallowing a star that got too close.

    Scientists, who until now had witnessed only the aftermath of such events, say the observation is shedding light on "relativistic jets," bursts of matter that shoot out at nearly the speed of light.
    Tho' I've belted you an' flayed you,
    By the livin' Gawd that made you,
    You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din!
    Quote Originally Posted by North Korea
    It is our military's traditional response to quell provocative actions with a merciless thunderbolt.

  2. #2
    Near East TW Mod Leader Member Cute Wolf's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    In ancient Middle East, driving Assyrian war machines...
    Posts
    3,991
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: Black Hole swallows a star: First time ever seen.

    it's actually frightening if you think about their "real" diameters and distances involved....

    for your info, the scale is much larger than earth to sun distances, or maybe, even the edge to edge of the solar system

    My Projects : * Near East Total War * Nusantara Total War * Assyria Total War *
    * Watch the mind-blowing game : My Little Ponies : The Mafia Game!!! *

    Also known as SPIKE in TWC

  3. #3
    Just another Member rajpoot's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Neverland
    Posts
    2,810

    Default Re: Black Hole swallows a star: First time ever seen.

    Very intriguing. I've always been fascinated by this kind of stuff.
    But it also makes me feel thankful that I won't be alive to see this happen to the sun.


    The horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight.

  4. #4
    Peerless Senior Member johnhughthom's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Looking for the red blob of nothingness
    Posts
    6,344

    Default Re: Black Hole swallows a star: First time ever seen.

    You never know, you might get lucky.

  5. #5
    Near East TW Mod Leader Member Cute Wolf's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    In ancient Middle East, driving Assyrian war machines...
    Posts
    3,991
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: Black Hole swallows a star: First time ever seen.

    Quote Originally Posted by johnhughthom View Post
    You never know, you might get lucky.
    only if you can life under gravitational wave from a black hole, from 1 AU first (and it may suck most of our atmosphere first)

    My Projects : * Near East Total War * Nusantara Total War * Assyria Total War *
    * Watch the mind-blowing game : My Little Ponies : The Mafia Game!!! *

    Also known as SPIKE in TWC

  6. #6
    Peerless Senior Member johnhughthom's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Looking for the red blob of nothingness
    Posts
    6,344

    Default Re: Black Hole swallows a star: First time ever seen.

    Surely if it came from the right direction it would start to suck mass from the sun before we felt it's effects? I'm no physics expert though so I could be totally wrong.

  7. #7

    Default Re: Black Hole swallows a star: First time ever seen.

    If it sucked mass away from the sun, isnt it possible for earth to break its gravitational pull and fly off into the universe? If so, thatd be legit. Go live underground and enjoy the universe through a planet thats pitch black.
    Tho' I've belted you an' flayed you,
    By the livin' Gawd that made you,
    You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din!
    Quote Originally Posted by North Korea
    It is our military's traditional response to quell provocative actions with a merciless thunderbolt.

  8. #8
    Member Member Greyblades's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    8,408
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: Black Hole swallows a star: First time ever seen.

    Its interesting, and a bit scary, though I can take some comfort that there isn't a chance of earth being sucked into one in my lifetime.
    Being better than the worst does not inherently make you good. But being better than the rest lets you brag.


    Quote Originally Posted by Strike For The South View Post
    Don't be scared that you don't freak out. Be scared when you don't care about freaking out
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

  9. #9

    Default Re: Black Hole swallows a star: First time ever seen.

    Tho' I've belted you an' flayed you,
    By the livin' Gawd that made you,
    You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din!
    Quote Originally Posted by North Korea
    It is our military's traditional response to quell provocative actions with a merciless thunderbolt.

  10. #10
    Member Member Greyblades's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    8,408
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: Black Hole swallows a star: First time ever seen.

    Well at least we know our decendants wont want for jewelry.
    Being better than the worst does not inherently make you good. But being better than the rest lets you brag.


    Quote Originally Posted by Strike For The South View Post
    Don't be scared that you don't freak out. Be scared when you don't care about freaking out
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

  11. #11

    Default Re: Black Hole swallows a star: First time ever seen.

    Quote Originally Posted by johnhughthom View Post
    Surely if it came from the right direction it would start to suck mass from the sun before we felt it's effects? I'm no physics expert though so I could be totally wrong.
    Nope. That's how fields work: the black hole pulls on all mass no matter where it is. Just that its effect on earth will be less than that on the sun because of the sun's greater mass and in this specific scenario lesser distance to the origin of the gravitational “field” of the black hole. However, the fact that the sun gets a worse deal is no consolation if it means our atmosphere is suddenly ripped off, and the earth is given an additional acceleration towards the center of the sun. (because currently the earth's speed is just right to keep it in falling past the sun (i.e. in orbit), rather than falling into the sun, but this depends on the strength of the sun's own gravitational field and (to a far lesser extent) that of the other major bodies in our solar system such as Jupiter and Saturn.

    The black hole would essentially upset the balance and if strong enough to rip the atmosphere from our earth it would certainly be strong enough to upset our orbit. Think of how the moon and sun affect tides, then remember that the moon is phase-locked with the earth because the earth's gravitational field essentially created a tide of rock heavy enough to stall the moon's rotation around its axis. Now imagine what a tidal waves in the earth's mantel & outer core could do.
    Last edited by Tellos Athenaios; 08-26-2011 at 01:15.
    - Tellos Athenaios
    CUF tool - XIDX - PACK tool - SD tool - EVT tool - EB Install Guide - How to track down loading CTD's - EB 1.1 Maps thread


    ὁ δ᾽ ἠλίθιος ὣσπερ πρόβατον βῆ βῆ λέγων βαδίζει” – Kratinos in Dionysalexandros.

  12. #12
    The Black Senior Member Papewaio's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Location
    Sydney, Australia
    Posts
    15,677

    Default Re: Black Hole swallows a star: First time ever seen.

    Not quite. Unless there is some sort of directed gravity pulse that ripples through the solar system (even then they are going to be less then a hand held gravity meter can measure)... The approaching gravity field will only increase as the black hole approaches... And that would be a gradual affair at first and would have a fairly uniform effect on the entire solar system as a single entity.

    And since everything is falling at the same rate the atmosphere won't be falling any faster until the field strength is significantly different fromone side of the planet to the other.

    Put it this way we don't personally conciously feel the change in gravity when the tide shifts. It would over a long time have an effect on our solar system... But the tearing off of our atmosphere would require a situation in which the entire solar system is falling in towards the black hole and be at a short distance in astronomy terms... The tides and probably the tectonic plates would show stress far earlier.
    Last edited by Papewaio; 08-26-2011 at 01:38.
    Our genes maybe in the basement but it does not stop us chosing our point of view from the top.
    Quote Originally Posted by Louis VI the Fat
    Pape for global overlord!!
    Quote Originally Posted by English assassin
    Squid sources report that scientists taste "sort of like chicken"
    Quote Originally Posted by frogbeastegg View Post
    The rest is either as average as advertised or, in the case of the missionary, disappointing.

  13. #13

    Default Re: Black Hole swallows a star: First time ever seen.

    Yes. But I understood the question to mean, when we can notice the black hole. I mean, there's a super massive blackhole of roughly similar calibre in the centre of the Milky Way galaxy, one which we already orbit (as a solar system)... but we hardly notice it except IIRC by the gradual movement of Polaris on the northern hemisphere (which is not a constant on the night's sky if you do consider such large timeframes...)
    - Tellos Athenaios
    CUF tool - XIDX - PACK tool - SD tool - EVT tool - EB Install Guide - How to track down loading CTD's - EB 1.1 Maps thread


    ὁ δ᾽ ἠλίθιος ὣσπερ πρόβατον βῆ βῆ λέγων βαδίζει” – Kratinos in Dionysalexandros.

  14. #14
    master of the pwniverse Member Fragony's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    The EUSSR
    Posts
    30,680

    Default Re: Black Hole swallows a star: First time ever seen.

    I feel so small right now

  15. #15

    Default Re: Black Hole swallows a star: First time ever seen.

    Dude, I've never gotten that feeling. See how small earth is compared to the rest of the multiverse just makes me want to go out and see what has never been seen before. Ive always felt bigger the smaller Im supposed to appear.
    Tho' I've belted you an' flayed you,
    By the livin' Gawd that made you,
    You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din!
    Quote Originally Posted by North Korea
    It is our military's traditional response to quell provocative actions with a merciless thunderbolt.

  16. #16
    Member Member classical_hero's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Perth, Western Australia. GMT+8
    Posts
    945

    Default Re: Black Hole swallows a star: First time ever seen.

    This sucks.

  17. #17

    Default Re: Black Hole swallows a star: First time ever seen.

    Cut Medicare, but keep funding NASA! (too Backroom?)

  18. #18
    Peerless Senior Member johnhughthom's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Looking for the red blob of nothingness
    Posts
    6,344

    Default Re: Black Hole swallows a star: First time ever seen.

    Quote Originally Posted by Tellos Athenaios View Post
    Yes. But I understood the question to mean, when we can notice the black hole. I mean, there's a super massive blackhole of roughly similar calibre in the centre of the Milky Way galaxy, one which we already orbit (as a solar system)... but we hardly notice it except IIRC by the gradual movement of Polaris on the northern hemisphere (which is not a constant on the night's sky if you do consider such large timeframes...)
    Oh, I didn't realise the article was about a supermassive black hole, I was thinking about a black hole with much less mass.

  19. #19

    Default Re: Black Hole swallows a star: First time ever seen.

    Quote Originally Posted by johnhughthom View Post
    Oh, I didn't realise the article was about a supermassive black hole, I was thinking about a black hole with much less mass.
    The article is about “a black hole” at first then goes on to say...
    Based on the wavelengths of light emitted by the flare and the way it evolved over time, the scientists concluded that it originated from matter falling or accreting onto a black hole about 1 million times the mass of the sun, comparable to the supermassive black hole at the heart of the Milky Way.
    .

    I took that to mean the two black holes are of roughly similar mass.
    - Tellos Athenaios
    CUF tool - XIDX - PACK tool - SD tool - EVT tool - EB Install Guide - How to track down loading CTD's - EB 1.1 Maps thread


    ὁ δ᾽ ἠλίθιος ὣσπερ πρόβατον βῆ βῆ λέγων βαδίζει” – Kratinos in Dionysalexandros.

  20. #20
    Moderator Moderator Gregoshi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2000
    Location
    Central Pennsylvania, USA
    Posts
    12,980

    Default Re: Black Hole swallows a star: First time ever seen.

    Quote Originally Posted by Greyblades View Post
    Well at least we know our decendants wont want for jewelry.
    That planet would look beautiful mounted on Saturn's rings.
    This space intentionally left blank

  21. #21
    Member Member Greyblades's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    8,408
    Blog Entries
    2

    Default Re: Black Hole swallows a star: First time ever seen.

    With a bit of work it would make a kickass buckle for the asteriod belt.
    Being better than the worst does not inherently make you good. But being better than the rest lets you brag.


    Quote Originally Posted by Strike For The South View Post
    Don't be scared that you don't freak out. Be scared when you don't care about freaking out
    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

  22. #22
    smell the glove Senior Member Major Robert Dump's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Location
    OKRAHOMER
    Posts
    7,424

    Default Re: Black Hole swallows a star: First time ever seen.

    I thought this thread was about Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher
    Baby Quit Your Cryin' Put Your Clown Britches On!!!

  23. #23
    Shadow Senior Member Kagemusha's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Helsinki,Finland
    Posts
    9,596

    Default Re: Black Hole swallows a star: First time ever seen.

    I can only imagine how that diamond planet will act as prism of that neutron star.Quite the light show i assume.
    Ja Mata Tosainu Sama.

  24. #24
    Guest Member Populus Romanus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Seattle Suburbs
    Posts
    1,335

    Default Re: Black Hole swallows a star: First time ever seen.

    I would hate crash landing into the diamond planet.

  25. #25

    Default Re: Black Hole swallows a star: First time ever seen.

    Quote Originally Posted by Gregoshi View Post
    That planet would look beautiful mounted on Saturn's rings.
    It's a nice pun, but the planet/dwarf is about the same weight as Jupiter apparently so... getting that piece of bling would “kill” Saturn.

    @Kagemusha: but isn't this a Pulsar, i.e. neutrino star, so no visible light but only Gamma & X rays ?
    - Tellos Athenaios
    CUF tool - XIDX - PACK tool - SD tool - EVT tool - EB Install Guide - How to track down loading CTD's - EB 1.1 Maps thread


    ὁ δ᾽ ἠλίθιος ὣσπερ πρόβατον βῆ βῆ λέγων βαδίζει” – Kratinos in Dionysalexandros.

  26. #26
    Shadow Senior Member Kagemusha's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Helsinki,Finland
    Posts
    9,596

    Default Re: Black Hole swallows a star: First time ever seen.

    Quote Originally Posted by Tellos Athenaios View Post
    It's a nice pun, but the planet/dwarf is about the same weight as Jupiter apparently so... getting that piece of bling would “kill” Saturn.

    @Kagemusha: but isn't this a Pulsar, i.e. neutrino star, so no visible light but only Gamma & X rays ?
    You are absolutely right with a second thought. I was so fascinated about the idea of giant prism orbiting a sun that i forgot pulsar doesnt give out light in normal sense.Thanks for correcting me.
    Ja Mata Tosainu Sama.

  27. #27
    Moderator Moderator Gregoshi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2000
    Location
    Central Pennsylvania, USA
    Posts
    12,980

    Default Re: Black Hole swallows a star: First time ever seen.

    Quote Originally Posted by Tellos Athenaios View Post
    It's a nice pun, but the planet/dwarf is about the same weight as Jupiter apparently so... getting that piece of bling would “kill” Saturn.
    Beauty transcends science.

    FYI, my uni degree is in astronomy.
    This space intentionally left blank

  28. #28
    The Black Senior Member Papewaio's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Location
    Sydney, Australia
    Posts
    15,677

    Default Re: Black Hole swallows a star: First time ever seen.

    You signed up because you thought it was the study of heavenly bodies, you didn't expect Uranus.
    Our genes maybe in the basement but it does not stop us chosing our point of view from the top.
    Quote Originally Posted by Louis VI the Fat
    Pape for global overlord!!
    Quote Originally Posted by English assassin
    Squid sources report that scientists taste "sort of like chicken"
    Quote Originally Posted by frogbeastegg View Post
    The rest is either as average as advertised or, in the case of the missionary, disappointing.

  29. #29
    Moderator Moderator Gregoshi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2000
    Location
    Central Pennsylvania, USA
    Posts
    12,980

    Default Re: Black Hole swallows a star: First time ever seen.

    Pape, my friend, you just put the second "s" in astronomy.
    This space intentionally left blank

  30. #30

    Default Re: Black Hole swallows a star: First time ever seen.

    Tho' I've belted you an' flayed you,
    By the livin' Gawd that made you,
    You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din!
    Quote Originally Posted by North Korea
    It is our military's traditional response to quell provocative actions with a merciless thunderbolt.

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Single Sign On provided by vBSSO