Illustration of Spinning and Non-Spinning Black Holes (IMAGE)

Syracuse University

Illustration of Spinning and Non-Spinning Black Holes

Caption

As shown in the illustration, the gravity of a black hole shifts X-rays from iron atoms to lower energies, producing a strongly skewed X-ray signal. One consequence of Einstein's theory of relativity is that spinning black holes drag space with them as they spin, making it possible for particles to orbit nearer to the black hole.

Credit

PHOTO CREDIT: NASA/CXC/M. Weiss

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