First Black Hole
This illustration depicts Cygnus X-1, the first confirmed black hole. The black hole ‘steals’ gas from a companion star (left). The gas forms a bright, hot disk around the black hole. Material at the inner edge of the disk then spirals into the black hole. The system emits huge amounts of X-rays, which explains the system’s name: It is the first X-ray source discovered in the constellation Cygnus. [ESA/NASA/Hubble]
Find out more in our radio program entitled Powerful Jets.