Technique · Measurement, Data & Statistics

Black-Hole Mass Measurement

Weighing a black hole by the motion of what orbits it — stars near the galactic centre, gas in a disk, or the gravitational waves of a merger. The masses range from a few Suns to billions.

Measurement, Data & StatisticsMeasures: The mass of a black hole

Knowledge connections

Member of groupMeasurement, Data & Statistics
Associated withThe Innermost Stable Circular Orbit
Associated withCygnus X-1 (black hole)

Sources

The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.

NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.