NASA | X-ray 'Echoes' Probe Habitat of Monster Black Hole

The video discusses NGC 4151, focusing on its central black hole and surrounding accretion disk. Scientists using the XMM Newton X-ray satellite discovered that X-ray flares occur above the disk. These flares illuminate the inner disk after a delay, providing the first clear measurement of this effect. This discovery helps in understanding the spatial arrangement of the flares and the disk. Future X-ray telescope missions aim to use these flares to map the surroundings of distant black holes more precisely.

What is the accretion disk surrounding the black hole in NGC 4151 composed of?

• Plasma and light

• Metal and water

• Dust and gas

• Ice and rock

What tool did scientists use to discover the source of X-ray flares in NGC 4151?

• XMM Newton X-ray satellite

• Chandra X-ray Observatory

• Hubble Space Telescope

• James Webb Space Telescope

Where is the source of the mysterious X-ray flares located in relation to the accretion disk?

• High above the disk

• At the edge of the disk

• Inside the disk

• Below the disk

What causes the delay in the inner accretion disk lighting up after a flare?

• The time it takes for sound to travel

• The time it takes for particles to settle

• The time it takes for light to reach the disk

• The time it takes for heat to dissipate

What future capability will X-ray telescope missions have regarding black holes?

• They will map the surroundings of distant black holes

• They will measure the temperature of black holes

• They will capture images of black holes

• They will detect gravitational waves from black holes