ESA (Image by C. Carreau)

Using indirect observations, a team of astronomers has gotten the closest look ever at the region of space around a supermassive black hole.

It is tough to image something that devours any electromagnetic radiation that gets too close to it, light included. But, since black holes warp space so severely, once mass or energy gets too close, it can no longer be observed by someone in our universe. Because of this, astronomers who study black holes are forced to use less direct methods for determining the nature of these beasts.

Thankfully for those interested in black holes, matter leaves behind a trail of X-rays as it enters its death throes prior to being accreted into a black hole. As matter swirls around a black hole, it gets accelerated to speeds near that of light, and becomes so hot it begins to emit X-rays. Since various elements emit unique spectral lines, astronomers can look at the X-ray spectra coming from a supermassive black hole and get a sense of what is falling into it.

Read complete article here. {via arstechnica.com}