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Astronomy

The Characteristics of Black Hole Accretion Disks

Quick fact

The gas in the inner regions of a black hole accretion disk can reach temperatures of millions of degrees, emitting intense X-rays.

Why this is interesting

You’ve probably seen pictures of glowing rings around black holes—but how can something that swallows light emit so much light? The answer lies in the disk of gas that spirals into the darkness.