Accretion Disk Surrounding a Black Hole or Neutron Star Orbits Close to a Hot, Massive Star (IMAGE)

NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

Accretion Disk Surrounding a Black Hole or Neutron Star Orbits Close to a Hot, Massive Star

Caption

In Cygnus X-3, an accretion disk surrounding a black hole or neutron star orbits close to a hot, massive star. Gamma rays (purple, in this illustration) likely arise when fast-moving electrons above and below the disk collide with the star's ultraviolet light. Fermi sees more of this emission when the disk is on the far side of its orbit.

Credit

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

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