Animation of Stars Forming Around Black Hole
Quicktime MPEG This animation shows a disk of red and yellow gas around a supermassive black hole. As the view pulls back, the formation of stars in the outer regions of the disk is seen. These massive stars form when the gas becomes unstable, despite the black hole's enormous gravitational influence, and collapses inwards.
[Runtime: 0:23]
View Still Images
(Animation: NASA/CXC/A.Hobart)
Quicktime MPEG This animation shows a disk of red and yellow gas around a supermassive black hole. As the view pulls back, the formation of stars in the outer regions of the disk is seen. These massive stars form when the gas becomes unstable, despite the black hole's enormous gravitational influence, and collapses inwards.
[Runtime: 0:23]
View Still Images
(Animation: NASA/CXC/A.Hobart)
Scenario Dismissed by Chandra Results
Quicktime MPEG This sequence of artist's renderings shows the scenario ruled out by the latest Chandra results. In this model, a cluster with both low (red) and high (blue) mass stars is drawn toward the black hole. Eventually, the strong gravitational forces would rip the cluster apart, sending its constituent stars into orbit around the black hole.
[Runtime: 0:10]
View Still Images
(Animation: Illustrations: NASA/CXC/M.Weiss)
Quicktime MPEG This sequence of artist's renderings shows the scenario ruled out by the latest Chandra results. In this model, a cluster with both low (red) and high (blue) mass stars is drawn toward the black hole. Eventually, the strong gravitational forces would rip the cluster apart, sending its constituent stars into orbit around the black hole.
[Runtime: 0:10]
View Still Images
(Animation: Illustrations: NASA/CXC/M.Weiss)
Return to Sagittarius A* (13 Oct 05)
Revised: July 29, 2008