NASA | X-ray Nova Reveals a New Black Hole in Our Galaxy

The video explains the Milky Way's visibility and the discovery of a rare X-ray nova by NASA's Swift satellite. This nova, identified as Swift J1745-26, led to the discovery of a previously unknown black hole in a binary system. The video further explores the mechanics of X-ray novae, where gas accumulates in an accretion disk around a black hole, leading to outbursts when the gas surges inward. Understanding these instabilities is crucial for studying various astronomical phenomena.

What makes the Milky Way's central region difficult to observe in visible light?

• The distance from Earth

• The presence of thick dust clouds

• The brightness of nearby stars

• The Earth's atmosphere

What significant event did NASA's Swift satellite observe on September 16, 2012?

• A comet passing by

• A supernova explosion

• A new X-ray source near the galactic center

• A solar flare

What was the newly discovered X-ray source identified as?

• A white dwarf

• A neutron star

• A black hole

• A pulsar

In a binary system with a black hole, what typically happens to the gas from the normal star?

• It gets ejected into space

• It remains stable and unchanging

• It forms a new star

• It spirals into the black hole, heating up and emitting X-rays

What causes the X-ray nova outburst in a binary system?

• A change in the black hole's mass

• A glitch in the accretion disk causing gas to surge towards the black hole

• A sudden increase in star brightness

• A collision with another star