How a study of binary stars revealed an invisible cosmic giant
In short: In 1970, astronomer Paul Murdain made a groundbreaking discovery while investigating stars in the Cygnus constellation. This video explores how observing a star's orbit led to the identification of one of the first known black holes.
While researching binary star systems, Paul Murdin noticed a star whose orbit was influenced by a massive, invisible companion. This unexpected finding in the constellation Cygnus provided early evidence for the existence of black holes.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Discovery of The First Black Hole | NOVA | PBS
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/ideas-the-discovery-of-the-first-black-hole-nova-pbs.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
