Black Holes & Stars - What Do We Know?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the nature of black holes and how they differ from stars in terms of the information we can gather about them. Participants explore the detection of black holes and other cosmic phenomena, as well as the challenges in understanding these entities from Earth.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions what information can be gathered from black holes compared to stars.
  • Another participant expresses confusion regarding the initial question and requests clarification.
  • A participant explains that black holes are indirectly detectable through their effects on surrounding matter, such as stars orbiting an unseen mass.
  • Cosmic rays and cosmic background radiation are mentioned as forms of information that do not originate from stars.
  • Detection methods for extrasolar planets are noted, highlighting how they affect their host stars.
  • Participants discuss the difficulty in detecting black holes and reference the observation of stars orbiting a large dark mass in the Milky Way as evidence for their existence.
  • A suggestion is made to search for information on gravitational lensing related to black holes.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the initial question, with some expressing confusion and others providing various perspectives on the detection of black holes and the information we can gather from them.

Contextual Notes

There are unresolved aspects regarding the clarity of the initial question and the specific types of information that can be gathered from black holes versus stars.

bhpv
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Hi,

One can register waves of light.
Is there anything known different then stars where we receive information from?
Say black holes?

I really guess.
 
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Hi bhpv,
I think I can help you, but I really don't understand the question. Can you rephrase it? And be more specific?
 
Yes, I agree w/ Dennis --- your question is incoherent
 
Hi,
Ok. Sorry for that.
I do not understand what one can experience from black holes here on earth.
 
Black holes are not directly detectable. We detect them by their effects on surrounding matter. For example, if you see a star orbiting around something, but you can't see the thing it is orbiting, then the thing is probably a black hole.
 
bhpv said:
Is there anything known different then stars where we receive information from?

First, I'd like to explain that I didn't understand that question because there are different answers to it but the general answer to that question is : yes!


bhpv said:
I do not understand what one can experience from black holes here on earth.

This question I understand :smile:. Black holes are very hard to detect, but there are good reasons for believing that they exist; as an example, astronomers have seen stars orbiting what appears as a very large "dark" mass centre in the centre of the Milky Way.

I sincerely recommend this clip:
ESOcast 2: Unprecedented 16-year long study tracks stars orbiting Milky Way black hole
 
bhpv said:
Is there anything known different then stars where we receive information from?
Say black holes?
Try a google search on "gravitational lensing black hole".
 

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