Thanksgiving Dinner at the Center of the Galaxy

Source - NASA Science News for Nov. 22, 2012

NASA's NuSTAR spacecraft has detected X-ray flares coming from the center of the galaxy--a signal that the Milky Way's supermassive black hole is having dinner. Astronomers are not sure, however, what's on the menu.

The complete article can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/22nov_backholesnacks/

A companion video is posted below and can also be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UP7ig8Gxftw





License: Standard YouTube License

Youngest-Ever Nearby Black Hole Discovered

Source - NASA Science News for Nov. 15, 2010

An amazingly young black hole--only 30 years old--has been found in a nearby galaxy by astronomers using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2010/14nov_babyblackhole/

Are We Alone for 12/21/09 - Journey to a Black Hole

Are We Alone - Journey to a Black Hole

A massive black hole lies at the center of our galaxy, a monster hunkered down in the Milky Way’s innermost sanctum. Here, the bizarre laws of General Relativity take over, as the physics we know break down. And our spaceship is headed straight for it.

Join us on a special dramatized 26,000 light-year adventure to the Galaxy’s hulking heart of darkness. We explore a cosmos held together by gravity – discover why it’s not really a force – and try to avoid getting too close to a black hole, the ultimate expression of gravity.

This program is part of the traveling exhibit: “Black Holes, Space Warps and Time Twists,” a production of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. Find out more at:

http://web-bh.cfa.harvard.edu/

Voices: Roland Pease, Lilia Roman, Roe DeVasto, Doug Vakoch, Patrick Porter, Gary Niederhoff

You can listen to this and other episodes at http://radio.seti.org/, and be sure to check out Are We A Blog?, the companion blog to the radio show.