Why Do Black Holes Look So Cool in Pictures?

Imagine you're looking at a giant, glowing donut. That's kind of what happens when we see a black hole image, not the hole itself, but the stuff around it. The hole is so strong that it bends light like a funhouse mirror. This makes the material swirling around it look bright and colorful, even though we can't actually see the hole.

Take the quiz →

Examples

A black hole looks like a glowing donut because light gets bent around it.
Imagine standing in front of a funhouse mirror, that's how gravity bends light near a black hole.
If you put your finger in hot soup, the part closest to you burns more, same with material around a black hole.

Ask a question

Discussion

Recent activity

Categories: Physics · black hole· astronomy· space imaging