Department of Energy Argonne National Laboratory Office of Science NEWTON's Homepage NEWTON's Homepage
NEWTON, Ask A Scientist!
NEWTON Home Page NEWTON Teachers Visit Our Archives Ask A Question How To Ask A Question Question of the Week Our Expert Scientists Volunteer at NEWTON! Frequently Asked Questions Referencing NEWTON About NEWTON About Ask A Scientist Education At Argonne Hubble and a Black Hole 
Name: Leigh Powers 
Status: N/A
Age: N/A
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 1993 - 1999
Question:
My name is Leigh Powers and I am writing a research paper on the Hubble Space telescope. I would like to know any details about how scientists might use the HST to search for black holes.

Replies:
Basically, astronomers hope to detect the radiation that is emitted when matter falls into a black hole. This is supposed to happen via a so-called accretion disk. (try looking that up in your library) In particular, a tell-tale black hole signature would be a strong electron-positron annihilation line at 1022 KeV probably gravitationally red-shifted.

John Hawley


Click here to return to the Astronomy Archives

NEWTON is an electronic community for Science, Math, and Computer Science K-12 Educators, sponsored and operated by Argonne National Laboratory's Educational Programs, Andrew Skipor, Ph.D., Head of Educational Programs.

For assistance with NEWTON contact a System Operator (help@newton.dep.anl.gov), or at Argonne's Educational Programs

NEWTON AND ASK A SCIENTIST
Educational Programs
Building 360
9700 S. Cass Ave.
Argonne, Illinois
60439-4845, USA
Update: June 2012
Weclome To Newton

Argonne National Laboratory