Learn About Black Holes

Black Holes (def.): A dense, compact object whose gravitational pull is so strong that — within a certain distance of it — nothing can escape, not even light.

If a star has three times or more the core mass of the Sun and collapses, it can form a black hole. These bizarre objects are found across the Universe — within double star systems and at the centers of galaxies where giant black holes grow. X-ray telescopes like Chandra can see superheated matter that is swirling toward the event horizon of a black hole. Chandra has revealed how black holes impact their environments, how they behave, and their role in helping shape the evolution of the cosmos.  More >

Black Hole Primer
A Black Hole Primer with Chandra

Black Hole Blog
Black Hole Destroys Star, Goes After Another, NASA Missions Find
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  • Field Guide to the Black Holes
    X-ray telescopes provide an unequaled view of super- heated matter that is swirling toward the event horizon of a black hole.
  • Black Holes Q&A
    Questions and answers on black holes from our web site
    visitors
  • Infographic
    A black hole is an object containing so much mass concentrated in a relatively small space that light can not escape.
  • Exploring Black Holes with Chandra
    With its unique properties, Chandra is peerless as a black hole probe — both near and far. Not even Chandra can "see" into black holes, but it can tackle many of their other mysteries.
  • The Truth and Lies about Black Holes
    Black holes have a bad reputation. After all, something that could swallow you completely sounds pretty scary. Learn about some of the myths on black holes in this interactive.
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