The anatomy of a black hole

Their effects can be seen across the universe, but what do they look like?

Accretion disc

A ring of gas and dust emitting vast amounts of electrostatic radiation, the dust may cross to the event horizon or form a jet.

Event horizon

The radius of the singularity, this is the point of no return. Neither matter nor energy can escape the black hole’s gravitational pull.

Innermost stable orbit

This is the last safe place matter can sit without hitting the event horizon and becoming forever lost in the singularity.

Relativistic jets (not shown)

Gas and dust accumulated by devouring a star can radiate from the poles of a black hole.

Singularity

The heart of the black hole, in which matter has collapsed under infinite density and gravity.

Photon sphere

Creating a bright ring orbiting the shadow, photons bend under the immense gravitational pull of a black hole.

Above the laws

According to Albert Einstein, black holes are chasms that end in a mass of infinite density, a world in which even the laws of physics collapse.

Event horizon

The edge of a black hole is known as the event horizon. This is as close as matter can approach before being sucked into the void forever.

Clash of titans

Eventually these two galactic giants will collide, resulting in gravitational waves that travel at the speed of light.