Why Doesn't This Black Hole Emit X-rays?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the absence of X-ray emissions from a specific black hole, questioning the implications of this observation. It highlights that press releases about scientific research may not accurately reflect the complexities of the findings, often being simplified by non-scientists. The GALEX satellite, noted for its sensitivity to ultraviolet light rather than X-rays, is mentioned as a reason for the lack of X-ray emphasis in the release. Additionally, it is pointed out that data from the Chandra X-ray Observatory, which detects X-rays, was also utilized in the research. Overall, the conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding the context and sources of scientific information.
Labguy
Science Advisor
Messages
731
Reaction score
7
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061206/sc_nm/blackhole_dc

If this were the case as explained, wouldn't we be detecting in X-ray also?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Astronomy news on Phys.org
Hi, Labguy,

You asked about http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061206/sc_nm/blackhole_dc , and I have a general comment about such items: don't forget that press releases like are often not written by the scientists who did the research, but by public relations persons who are not scientists and who therefore tend to misunderstand the scientific issues mentioned to a greater or lesser extent.

Labguy said:
If this were the case as explained, wouldn't we be detecting in X-ray also?

The press release did mention that GALEX is sensitive to UV, not X-ray, which probably explains why X-rays are not mentioned prominently in this particular press release. See
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=GALEX&oldid=91094687; note that I have linked to a specific version using the "permanent link" button, and that this version includes links to the GALEX home page at Caltech. (In using Wikpedia, you should always make allowance for the fact that Wikipedia can be edited by anyone at any time. WP articles on topics currently in the news are often highly unstable and may be highly inaccurate at any given moment.)

The press release also mentions that the scientists in question also employed data from the Chandra X-ray Observatory (which is sensitive to X-rays) and to optical telescopes (which are sensitive to ordinary light).

Chris Hillman
 
Last edited by a moderator:
This thread is dedicated to the beauty and awesomeness of our Universe. If you feel like it, please share video clips and photos (or nice animations) of space and objects in space in this thread. Your posts, clips and photos may by all means include scientific information; that does not make it less beautiful to me (n.b. the posts must of course comply with the PF guidelines, i.e. regarding science, only mainstream science is allowed, fringe/pseudoscience is not allowed). n.b. I start this...
Asteroid, Data - 1.2% risk of an impact on December 22, 2032. The estimated diameter is 55 m and an impact would likely release an energy of 8 megatons of TNT equivalent, although these numbers have a large uncertainty - it could also be 1 or 100 megatons. Currently the object has level 3 on the Torino scale, the second-highest ever (after Apophis) and only the third object to exceed level 1. Most likely it will miss, and if it hits then most likely it'll hit an ocean and be harmless, but...
Back
Top