Let’s Do Some Leaf-Peeping From Space

Looking Up at the Photon Sphere

The first frame is dark as you peer into the black hole itself. You begin to look up and stars come back into view. Now the stars are more blue than ever before as starlight that has fallen into the…

• Stars appear more vibrant and blue near black hole
• Light deflected around black hole's far side
• Photon sphere acts as one-way light portal

2h ago ·science.nasa.gov

Circling the Black Hole

The first frame shows a background sky highly distorted by the black hole in the center. The gravity of the black hole is so great that it actually deflects the background starlight.

• Black hole distorts background sky, causing light bending effects
• Stars hidden behind black hole visible due to extreme gravity
• Einstein ring surrounds black hole, stars rotate opposite direction

2h ago ·science.nasa.gov

Two More NASA Balloons Remain for Fall Campaign

NASA’s Balloon Program is past the halfway point for the fall campaign in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. Four missions have successfully launched from the launch site, with two more lined up in the coming…

2h ago ·nasa.gov

Approaching the Photon Sphere

As before, from this orientation, the black hole’s enormous gravity bends light to make two discernible images of the constellation Orion. You now descend to the photon sphere.

• Black hole's immense gravity warps light to create two visible images of Orion.
• Photon sphere allows light to orbit black hole in circular path.
• Light from outside photon sphere cannot reach observer from beneath.

2h ago ·science.nasa.gov