Reconciling APOD BH Videos w/ Physics Forums Discussion

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SUMMARY

The forum discussion centers on the scientific accuracy of two APOD (Astronomy Picture Of the Day) videos depicting black holes: "Orbiting a Black Hole" and "Circling a Black Hole at its Photon Sphere." Participants express concerns regarding the portrayal of Bob's perception while free-falling into a black hole, specifically the assertion that he would perceive nothing special upon crossing the event horizon (EH). Experts counter these claims, emphasizing that the videos represent an observer in orbit rather than a free-falling perspective, and highlight that the visuals focus on light from distant sources rather than local effects experienced by an individual crossing the EH.

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anorlunda
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Recently, APOD (Astronomy Picture Of the Day) posted two computer generated videos. They are Orbiting a Black Hole and Circling a Black Hole at its Photon Sphere. APOD says that the videos are scientifically accurate.

But here on PF (Physics Forums) many attempts by myself and other amateurs to protest the assertion that Bob (or Alice) perceive nothing as they free fall past the EH into the interior of a sufficiently large black hole. These amateur protests have been repeatedly rebuffed by the pros. The pros say, it is true that Bob would perceive nothing special.

How do I reconcile the APOD videos with those explanations of Bob's perception?

Is it the fact that Bob is free-falling whereas the videos are from the point of view of an observer in orbit?
 
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Those images deal with light from very far away, not purely local effects. Also, they don't deal with crossing the EH.
 

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