Light Bending Around Black Holes: A Real Phenomenon

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Light travels in straight lines, but its path can appear bent due to the curvature of space around massive objects like black holes. This phenomenon is a result of general relativity, which explains how gravity affects the fabric of space-time. While the curvature of space around Earth can influence satellite trajectories, it does not necessarily lead to collisions if they are on parallel paths. The discussion emphasizes the importance of understanding space curvature in relation to gravitational effects. Overall, the bending of light around black holes is a significant aspect of astrophysics.
UrbanXrisis
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Light always wants to travel in a straight line, however, the space is curved around massive objects such as black holes, so it would seem as if the light was being bent as it traveled around the black hole. The space around the Earth is curved.. so satellies traveling along parallel paths can actually collide with eath other right?
 
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I think this is a topic for the Relativity section of the forums however from my knowledge of the curvature of space, I do not believe they would. Please PM if you find otherwise.

The Bob (2004 ©)
 

Thread 'Luminous Fast Blue Optical Transients (LFBOTs)'

UC Berkely, December 16, 2025 https://news.berkeley.edu/2025/12/16/whats-powering-these-mysterious-bright-blue-cosmic-flashes-astronomers-find-a-clue/ AT 2024wpp, a luminous fast blue optical transient, or LFBOT, is the bright blue spot at the upper right edge of its host galaxy, which is 1.1 billion light-years from Earth in (or near) a galaxy far, far away. Such objects are very bright (obiously) and very energetic. The article indicates that AT 2024wpp had a peak luminosity of 2-4 x...
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