{"id":41490,"date":"2022-11-21T14:52:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-21T19:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-359566"},"modified":"2024-06-03T09:44:23","modified_gmt":"2024-06-03T13:44:23","slug":"what-is-a-black-hole-grades-k-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/learning-resources\/for-kids-and-students\/what-is-a-black-hole-grades-k-4\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is a Black Hole? (Grades K – 4)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>This article is for students grades K-4<\/em>.<br>  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A black hole is a place in space where gravity pulls so much that even light can not get out. The gravity is so strong because matter has been squeezed into a tiny space. This can happen when a star is dying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because no light can get out, people can\u2019t see black holes. They are invisible. Space telescopes with special tools can help find black holes. The special tools can see how stars that are very close to black holes act differently than other stars.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/sgr_lg_2.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"946\" height=\"946\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/sgr_lg_2.jpg?w=946\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Close-up of a black hole\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 55% 4%; object-position: 55% 4%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/sgr_lg_2.jpg 946w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/sgr_lg_2.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/sgr_lg_2.jpg?resize=300,300 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/sgr_lg_2.jpg?resize=768,768 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/sgr_lg_2.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/sgr_lg_2.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/sgr_lg_2.jpg?resize=200,200 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/sgr_lg_2.jpg?resize=400,400 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/sgr_lg_2.jpg?resize=600,600 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/sgr_lg_2.jpg?resize=900,900 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 946px) 100vw, 946px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>How Big Are Black Holes?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Black holes can be big or small. Scientists think the smallest black holes are as small as just one atom. These black holes are very tiny but have the mass of a large mountain. Mass is the amount of matter, or \u201cstuff,\u201d in an object.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another kind of black hole is called \u201cstellar.\u201d Its mass can be up to 20 times more than the mass of the sun. There may be many, many stellar mass black holes in Earth\u2019s galaxy. Earth\u2019s galaxy is called the Milky Way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The largest black holes are called \u201csupermassive.\u201d These black holes have masses that are more than 1 million suns together. Scientists have found proof that every large galaxy contains a supermassive black hole at its center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy is called Sagittarius A. It has a mass equal to about 4 million suns and would fit inside a very large ball that could hold a few million Earths.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/cygx1_ill.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1728\" height=\"1224\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/cygx1_ill.jpg?w=1728\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Black hole with spinning material around it\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/cygx1_ill.jpg 1728w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/cygx1_ill.jpg?resize=300,213 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/cygx1_ill.jpg?resize=768,544 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/cygx1_ill.jpg?resize=1024,725 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/cygx1_ill.jpg?resize=1536,1088 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/cygx1_ill.jpg?resize=400,283 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/cygx1_ill.jpg?resize=600,425 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/cygx1_ill.jpg?resize=900,638 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/cygx1_ill.jpg?resize=1200,850 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1728px) 100vw, 1728px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How Do Black Holes Form?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Scientists think the smallest black holes formed when the universe began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Stellar black holes are made when the center of a very big star falls in upon itself, or collapses. When this happens, it causes a supernova. A supernova is an exploding star that blasts part of the star into space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Scientists think supermassive black holes were made at the same time as the galaxy they are in.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/edu_chandra_informal.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1041\" height=\"1041\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/edu_chandra_informal.jpg?w=1041\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Black hole Sagittarius A\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/edu_chandra_informal.jpg 1041w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/edu_chandra_informal.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/edu_chandra_informal.jpg?resize=300,300 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/edu_chandra_informal.jpg?resize=768,768 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/edu_chandra_informal.jpg?resize=1024,1024 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/edu_chandra_informal.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/edu_chandra_informal.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/edu_chandra_informal.jpg?resize=200,200 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/edu_chandra_informal.jpg?resize=400,400 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/edu_chandra_informal.jpg?resize=600,600 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/edu_chandra_informal.jpg?resize=900,900 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1041px) 100vw, 1041px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><strong>If Black Holes Are \u201cBlack,\u201d How Do Scientists Know They Are There?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A black hole can not be seen because strong gravity pulls all of the light into the middle of the black hole. But scientists can see how the strong gravity affects the stars and gas around the black hole. Scientists can study stars to find out if they are flying around, or orbiting, a black hole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When a black hole and a star are close together, high-energy light is made. This kind of light can not be seen with human eyes. Scientists use satellites and telescopes in space to see the high-energy light.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/blackhole_2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"523\" height=\"522\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/blackhole_2.jpg?w=523\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"High energy light\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/blackhole_2.jpg 523w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/blackhole_2.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/blackhole_2.jpg?resize=300,300 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/blackhole_2.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/blackhole_2.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/blackhole_2.jpg?resize=200,200 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/blackhole_2.jpg?resize=400,400 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 523px) 100vw, 523px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><strong><b>Could a Black Hole Destroy Earth?<\/b><\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Even if a black hole the same mass as the sun were to take the place of the sun, Earth still would not fall in. The black hole would have the same gravity as the sun. Earth and the other planets would orbit the black hole as they orbit the sun now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Black holes do not go around in space eating stars, moons and planets. Earth will not fall into a black hole because no black hole is close enough to the solar system for Earth to do that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The sun will never turn into a black hole. The sun is not a big enough star to make a black hole.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/image-article\/this-week-nasa-history-fermi-gamma-ray-space-telescope-launches-june-11-2008\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1041\" height=\"1555\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ksc-08pd1431orig.jpg?w=1041\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"This week in 2008, the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope was launched aboard a Delta II rocket.\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ksc-08pd1431orig.jpg 1041w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ksc-08pd1431orig.jpg?resize=201,300 201w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ksc-08pd1431orig.jpg?resize=768,1147 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ksc-08pd1431orig.jpg?resize=686,1024 686w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ksc-08pd1431orig.jpg?resize=1028,1536 1028w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ksc-08pd1431orig.jpg?resize=268,400 268w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ksc-08pd1431orig.jpg?resize=402,600 402w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ksc-08pd1431orig.jpg?resize=603,900 603w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ksc-08pd1431orig.jpg?resize=803,1200 803w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1041px) 100vw, 1041px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>How Is NASA Studying Black Holes?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>NASA is using satellites and telescopes that are traveling in space to learn more about black holes. These spacecraft help scientists answer questions about the universe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b><strong>More About Black Holes<\/strong><\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p> <a href=\"http:\/\/spaceplace.nasa.gov\/black-holes\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Space Place in a Snap: What Is a Black Hole?<\/a><br> <a href=\"https:\/\/spaceplace.nasa.gov\/black-hole-rescue\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Black Hole Rescue <\/a><br> <a href=\"https:\/\/spaceplace.nasa.gov\/black-hole-boardgame\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/spaceplace.nasa.gov\/black-hole-boardgame\/en\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Fall Into a Black Hole<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/learning-resources\/for-kids-and-students\/what-is-a-black-hole-grades-5-8\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/learning-resources\/for-kids-and-students\/what-is-a-black-hole-grades-5-8\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">What Is a Black Hole? (Grades 5-8)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-center nasa-button-link padding-y-1 padding-x-0 hds-module wp-block-nasa-blocks-related-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/learning-resources\/for-students-grades-k-4\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"button-primary button-primary-md link-external-true\" aria-label=\"Explore More For Students K-4\">\n\t\t<span class=\"line-height-alt-1\">Explore More For Students K-4<\/span>\n\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"button-primary-circle\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\n\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This article is for students grades K-4.   A black hole is a place in space where gravity pulls so much that even light can not get out. The gravity is so strong because matter has been squeezed into a tiny space. This can happen when a star is dying. Because no light can get [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":259077,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"42","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":["28"],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[2849,3290,3773],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[10610,12705,4152],"coauthors":[12657],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"What Is a Black Hole? (Grades K – 4)","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/learning-resources\/for-kids-and-students\/what-is-a-black-hole-grades-k-4\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/learning-resources\/for-kids-and-students\/what-is-a-black-hole-grades-k-4\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/assasn-14li-banner.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/assasn-14li-banner.jpg"},"articleSection":"Learning Resources","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"NASA STEM Team"}],"creator":["NASA STEM Team"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["Learning Resources","For Kids and Students","Grades K - 4","Read it!"],"dateCreated":"2022-11-21T19:52:00Z","datePublished":"2022-11-21T19:52:00Z","dateModified":"2024-06-03T13:44:23Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"What Is a Black Hole? (Grades K – 4)\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/learning-resources\/for-kids-and-students\/what-is-a-black-hole-grades-k-4\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/assasn-14li-banner.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2022-11-21T19:52:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"Learning Resources\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"Learning Resources,For Kids and Students,Grades K - 4,Read it!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"NASA STEM Team\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":4,"time_ago":"2 years","featured_image":{"id":259077,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/assasn-14li-banner.jpg","title":"assasn-14li-banner","alt":"","caption":"This artist\u2019s rendering shows the tidal disruption event named ASASSN-14li, where a star wandering too close to a 3-million-solar-mass black hole was torn apart. The debris gathered into an accretion disk around the black hole. New data from NASA's Swift satellite show that the initial formation of the disk was shaped by interactions among incoming and outgoing streams of tidal debris."},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41490"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41490"}],"version-history":[{"count":24,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41490\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":667364,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41490\/revisions\/667364"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/259077"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41490"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41490"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=41490"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=41490"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=41490"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}