The Astrophysics Science Division (ASD) at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) seeks a creative, innovative individual with strong teamwork and leadership skills to serve as Director of the High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center (HEASARC). This will be a permanent civil servant position. + Learn more.

Search:

[Advanced Search]



RXTE Helpdesk/FAQ RXTE What's New HEASARC Site Map

"Old Faithful" Black Hole

"Old Faithful" Black Hole Animation
Credit: NASA/GSFC; Walt Feimer/Allied Signal

Get the RealPlayer if needed.

Scientists observing a disk of matter surrounding a black hole in our galaxy have discovered that the disk is periodically disrupted and hurled outward in opposite directions from the black hole, in jets moving at nearly the speed of light. The black hole replenishes the disk by pulling hot gas from the surface of a nearby "companion" star, and then undergoes another disruption, repeating the sequence at half-hour intervals

Read the full NASA Press Release.

Further information is available from the RXTE Learning Center and Imagine the Universe!.

"Old Faithful" Black Hole Animation

Get the latest version of


If you have a question about RXTE, please send email to one of our help desks.

This page is maintained by the RXTE GOF and was last modified on Wednesday, 24-Aug-2022 11:10:28 EDT.