Chatroom
 

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Go Back   Bad Astronomy and Universe Today Forum > Universe Today > Universe Today Story Comments
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Mark Forums Read

   

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 07-September-2005, 04:24 PM
Fraser's Avatar
Fraser Fraser is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Courtenay, BC, Canada
Posts: 13,031
Default Iron Can Help Determine if a Black Hole is Spinning

SUMMARY: Astronomers have used the Chandra X-Ray Observatory to examine the presence of iron in three stellar black holes to understand if they're spinning or not. In theory, a spinning black hole will drag space around it and permit atoms to exist closer than a non-spinning one - Chandra can detect the relativistic effects on iron atoms orbiting the black hole. The explanation for different spin rates could be due to the size of a black hole's source of material; the larger the source (like a big star) and longer feeding time, the faster the black hole spins.

View full article
What do you think about this story? post your comments below.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT. The time now is 09:38 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.3
Copyright ©2000 - 2009, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
LinkBacks Enabled by vBSEO 3.0.0
©  2006 Bad Astronomy and Universe Today