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Thursday, August 25, 2011

Science! / Astronomy This Is What the End of the World Will Look Like

Posted by Ned Lannamann on Thu, Aug 25, 2011 at 11:30 AM


This is an animated video that NASA has produced, after recently observing a black hole by the name of Swift J1644+57 devour a giant star in the Draco constellation—the first time such an event has actually been witnessed as it occurs. In other words, when a black hole swallows our galaxy hole (it will happen, someday), this is what it will look like.

Now, I'm no sciencer, nor am I an astronomyist, but from what I can gather by reading NASA's report (via Astronomy magazine's website, which is just like the print version but without all the racy centerfolds), the swallowed star still emits a blast of X-rays even after it has been sucked in and torn apart by the black hole. Then, it disappears. Forever. And ever. Into a mysterious void, the nature of which science has not even begun to approach understanding.

Are you freaked out yet?

 

Comments (8) RSS

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1
Into a mysterious void the nature of which science has not even begun to approach understanding.

Black holes aren't quite that mysterious to us. They're just really heavy, dense objects, with enough compact mass that the escape velocity is greater than the speed of light. We don't know exactly what phase the matter inside is in, and there are lots of other questions, but geez.
Posted by floam on August 25, 2011 at 11:48 AM · Report
2
Also, the star isn't emitting x-rays from inside the black hole. It's going to take a very long time for the star to get sucked in entirely, the x-rays are from outside.
Posted by floam on August 25, 2011 at 11:51 AM · Report
3
Galaxy hole, is that like a donut hole? If so, that's already a black hole.
Posted by guspasho on August 25, 2011 at 12:14 PM · Report
4
I bet when we get sucked through we'll all be fine except everything will look like an Aha video.
Posted by Zed on August 25, 2011 at 12:25 PM · Report
5
That Black Hole is weak
regards
Raider fans
Posted by The Showstopper on August 25, 2011 at 1:23 PM · Report
6
I'm very concerned for the sanctity of our galaxy hole. Nothing should be swallowing it... that's just rude.
Posted by Anti2501 on August 25, 2011 at 2:37 PM · Report
7
That star didn't even fight back. Big pussy if you ask me.
Posted by Blabby on August 25, 2011 at 3:16 PM · Report
8
Coming to an area near Earth (22 million miles) "Comet Elenin," on 17 OCT 2011. According to the hippies and black helicopter crowd. Somehow this also explains the Earthquakes in Japan and Washington DC.
Posted by Rosy on August 25, 2011 at 8:20 PM · Report

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