|
Credit & Copyright: Robert Nemiroff
(MTU)
Explanation:
The above computer animated
picture
depicts how a very compact star
would look to a nearby observer. The star pictured
is actually more compact that any known except a black hole,
so it is only hypothetical. The observer is situated at the photon sphere,
where photons can orbit in a circle. To help the viewer better
visualize the great distortions created by gravity, a map of the
Earth was projected onto the star,
and a map of the familiar night sky was projected above. From
here one can either look down and see several
duplicate images
of the entire surface of the star, look up and see several duplicate
images of the entire night sky, or look along the photon sphere
and see the back of one's own head.
Tomorrow's picture: Too Close to a Black Hole
|
January February March April May June July August September October November December |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day