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L. Ferrarese (Johns Hopkins University) and NASA.
Related links:
Einstein's Messengers - LIGO Documentary - streaming RealVideo (20 min. 12 sec.) from NSF
Movie of matter falling into a black hole (artist's concept) (3.6 Mb!)
Black Holes
No one is sure that Black Holes really exist, but most scientists think they do. They are very hard to see, because they are black and so is space. They are black because their gravity is so strong that not even light can escape them.Black Holes can form from a supernova explosion. The collapse of a star's surface inward causes the explosion. And it also makes a black hole. But only if the star was big enough. It takes a pretty big star to make a Black Hole.
Some astronomers believe that they have seen Black Holes indirectly. They think that they can see Black Holes gobbling up stars that got too close to them. They also think that most galaxies may have a giant Black Holes in their centers.
What would it be like to enter a black hole? Not fun. First, as you
approach the black hole the difference in gravity's pull on your head
compared to your feet would rip you apart. But suppose you survived
that. Once you entered the Black Hole you cannot return, remember not
even light gets away from a Black Hole. In the end the Black Hole
would crush you out of existence. So I wouldn't try it if I were you.
