0

The photograph of the black hole, at the centre of galaxy M87, is now a part of human history. We are told that the red-colour is caused by hot gas, matter & radiation around the "edge", the Event Horizon. Given the power of the gravitational forces emanating from black hole, why aren't these three things drawn into the abyss? If light is bent/ drawn into the BH, how does this red image arise? The logic, here, would be that a body, on the Event Horizon, is immune from the gravity--which sounds pretty fatuous?

Kyle Kanos
  • 29,127
tony
  • 209
  • 1
  • 8

1 Answers1

4

Given the power of the gravitational forces emanating from black hole, why aren't these three things drawn into the abyss? If light is bent/ drawn into the BH, how does this red image arise?

It's the matter outside the black hole you're seeing. The matter on the inside can't be seen and that's why it's black in the center of the photo.

Now, wait, you say... but I thought black holes sucked everything in. No, they suck in everything within a certain distance, the "event horizon". That's a finite distance. Things outside that distance are still being sucked in, but not the light, so the stuff just outside remains visible.

The "inside" and "outside" are basically defined by this event horizon.

Maury Markowitz
  • 8,898