Black Holes

cheerfulgreek · #1 05-19-2008, 02:08 PM

This past weekend I went to a bunch of science museums and I had a wonderful time. One of the things that were being discussed were black holes and how they form and grow. I got a chance to talk with an astrophysicist on the subject.

He was just saying that they're very difficult to find, but shortly after what scientist believe to be the Big Bang theory they were much more common. I knew somewhat about them, but a lot of things I didn't know. He said something to the effect of when a star begins to die, it starts to expand, from gas falling into it. The gas traps more heat into the star making it hotter. Once it's super hot, reactions inside the star carry away heat. Once the star loses it's heat it collapses in on itself creating a small black hole. After that, it starts to consume the gas around it, making it even larger. He said at one time there were some that were 10,000 times larger than our own sun. That' massive.

I wonder what kind of effects it would have on Earth and our solar system if a huge one developed within our galaxy or slightly outside of our galaxy. I wonder if we would be able to see it with the naked eye?

Kevlar281 · #2 05-19-2008, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

I wonder what kind of effects it would have on Earth and our solar system if a huge one developed within our galaxy or slightly outside of our galaxy. I wonder if we would be able to see it with the naked eye?

We would be screwed. Google "Rogue Black Holes" for some scary bedtime reading.

cheerfulgreek · #3 05-20-2008, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevlar281

We would be screwed. Google "Rogue Black Holes" for some scary bedtime reading.

Whatever.

RU OX Alum · #4 05-20-2008, 10:55 AM

this is interesting, i wish i knew more about them so i could contribute

cheerfulgreek · #5 05-20-2008, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RU OX Alum

this is interesting, i wish i knew more about them so i could contribute

I wish I knew what was inside of them. Of course no one will ever know.

Oh and to Senusret, Yes, the 1979 Black Hole Movie was so good.

RU OX Alum · #6 05-20-2008, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

I wish I knew what was inside of them. Of course no one will ever know.

Oh and to Senusret, Yes, the 1979 Black Hole Movie was so good.

do you think it would be possible to travel through them? Do they go some place? Or is it just a collection of collapsed gasses that are breaking down, and isn't really a "hole" in that sense.

Senusret I · #7 05-20-2008, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

Whatever.

I don't understand this response....

Anyway, I checked out rogue black holes and it was REALLY interesting.

Black holes have always been a little scary to me, ever since that damn movie came out in the 70s with the trippy ending.

cheerfulgreek · #8 05-20-2008, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Senusret I

I don't understand this response....

Anyway, I checked out rogue black holes and it was REALLY interesting.

Black holes have always been a little scary to me, ever since that damn movie came out in the 70s with the trippy ending.

Senusret, I just thought he was being sarcastic with the bedtime story response.

PrettyBoy · #9 05-20-2008, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

This past weekend I went to a bunch of science museums and I had a wonderful time. One of the things that were being discussed were black holes and how they form and grow. I got a chance to talk with an astrophysicist on the subject.

He was just saying that they're very difficult to find, but shortly after what scientist believe to be the Big Bang theory they were much more common. I knew somewhat about them, but a lot of things I didn't know. He said something to the effect of when a star begins to die, it starts to expand, from gas falling into it. The gas traps more heat into the star making it hotter. Once it's super hot, reactions inside the star carry away heat. Once the star loses it's heat it collapses in on itself creating a small black hole. After that, it starts to consume the gas around it, making it even larger. He said at one time there were some that were 10,000 times larger than our own sun. That' massive.

I wonder what kind of effects it would have on Earth and our solar system if a huge one developed within our galaxy or slightly outside of our galaxy. I wonder if we would be able to see it with the naked eye?

LOL

I knew it!

nate2512 · #10 05-20-2008, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

This past weekend I went to a bunch of science museums and I had a wonderful time. One of the things that were being discussed were black holes and how they form and grow. I got a chance to talk with an astrophysicist on the subject.

He was just saying that they're very difficult to find, but shortly after what scientist believe to be the Big Bang theory they were much more common. I knew somewhat about them, but a lot of things I didn't know. He said something to the effect of when a star begins to die, it starts to expand, from gas falling into it. The gas traps more heat into the star making it hotter. Once it's super hot, reactions inside the star carry away heat. Once the star loses it's heat it collapses in on itself creating a small black hole. After that, it starts to consume the gas around it, making it even larger. He said at one time there were some that were 10,000 times larger than our own sun. That' massive.

I wonder what kind of effects it would have on Earth and our solar system if a huge one developed within our galaxy or slightly outside of our galaxy. I wonder if we would be able to see it with the naked eye?

I watched a thing on the history channel tonight about the universe. They said this won't be a problem until 1 trillion a.d. Apparently at that point the sun will become a black hole and implode the entire universe creating another big bang.

cheerfulgreek · #11 05-21-2008, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nate2512

I watched a thing on the history channel tonight about the universe. They said this won't be a problem until 1 trillion a.d. Apparently at that point the sun will become a black hole and implode the entire universe creating another big bang.

I wonder how they know this?

To PB...Oh, shut up!

fantASTic · #12 05-22-2008, 10:27 PM

Actually...I know exactly what would happen if there was a black hole at the center of the galaxy. To put it in short, it would basically be exactly like it is now.

Guess what? Scientists believe there IS a black hole in the middle of the Milky Way!

http://www.space.com/scienceastronom...ay_031124.html

Check out the first sentence.

cheerfulgreek · #13 05-23-2008, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fantASTic

Actually...I know exactly what would happen if there was a black hole at the center of the galaxy. To put it in short, it would basically be exactly like it is now.

Guess what? Scientists believe there IS a black hole in the middle of the Milky Way!

http://www.space.com/scienceastronom...ay_031124.html

Check out the first sentence.

Well, we were talking about what would happen if we were being sucked into one.

Great article though.

fantASTic · #14 05-25-2008, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

I wonder what kind of effects it would have on Earth and our solar system if a huge one developed within our galaxy or slightly outside of our galaxy. I wonder if we would be able to see it with the naked eye?

Ah.