{"id":41301,"date":"2022-11-21T14:52:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-21T19:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-360430"},"modified":"2024-02-08T17:29:17","modified_gmt":"2024-02-08T22:29:17","slug":"what-is-a-black-hole-grades-5-8","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/learning-resources\/for-kids-and-students\/what-is-a-black-hole-grades-5-8\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is a Black Hole? (Grades 5-8)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p> <em>This article is for students grades 5-8<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\nA black hole is a region in space where the pulling force of gravity is so strong that light is not able to escape. The strong gravity occurs because matter has been pressed into a tiny space. This compression can take place at the end of a star\u2019s life. Some black holes are a result of dying 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\/06\/cygx1_ill_0.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1728\" height=\"1224\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/cygx1_ill_0.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\/06\/cygx1_ill_0.jpg 1728w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/cygx1_ill_0.jpg?resize=300,213 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/cygx1_ill_0.jpg?resize=768,544 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/cygx1_ill_0.jpg?resize=1024,725 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/cygx1_ill_0.jpg?resize=1536,1088 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/cygx1_ill_0.jpg?resize=400,283 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/cygx1_ill_0.jpg?resize=600,425 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/cygx1_ill_0.jpg?resize=900,638 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/cygx1_ill_0.jpg?resize=1200,850 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1728px) 100vw, 1728px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Because no light can escape, black holes are invisible. However, space telescopes with special instruments can help find black holes. They can observe the behavior of material and stars that are very close to black holes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">_________________________________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Words to Know<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\"><strong>mass: <\/strong>the measurement for the amount of matter in an object<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">_________________________________________________________________________________________<\/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\/06\/blackhole_2_0.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"523\" height=\"522\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/blackhole_2_0.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\/06\/blackhole_2_0.jpg 523w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/blackhole_2_0.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/blackhole_2_0.jpg?resize=300,300 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/blackhole_2_0.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/blackhole_2_0.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/blackhole_2_0.jpg?resize=200,200 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/blackhole_2_0.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>How Big Are Black Holes?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p> Black holes can come in a range of sizes, but there are three main types of black holes. The black hole\u2019s <b>mass<\/b> and size determine what kind it is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The smallest ones are known as primordial black holes. Scientists believe this type of black hole is as small as a single atom but with the mass of a large mountain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The most common type of medium-sized black holes is called \u201cstellar.\u201d The mass of a stellar black hole can be up to 20 times greater than the mass of the sun and can fit inside a ball with a diameter of about 10 miles. Dozens of stellar mass black holes may exist within the Milky Way galaxy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The largest black holes are called \u201csupermassive.\u201d These black holes have masses greater than 1 million suns combined and would fit inside a ball with a diameter about the size of the solar system. Scientific evidence suggests that every large galaxy contains a supermassive black hole at its center. 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 ball with a diameter about the size of the sun.<\/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\/06\/sgr_lg_3.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"946\" height=\"946\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/sgr_lg_3.jpg?w=946\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Close-up of black hole\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 85% 0%; object-position: 85% 0%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/sgr_lg_3.jpg 946w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/sgr_lg_3.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/sgr_lg_3.jpg?resize=300,300 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/sgr_lg_3.jpg?resize=768,768 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/sgr_lg_3.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/sgr_lg_3.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/sgr_lg_3.jpg?resize=200,200 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/sgr_lg_3.jpg?resize=400,400 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/sgr_lg_3.jpg?resize=600,600 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/sgr_lg_3.jpg?resize=900,900 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 946px) 100vw, 946px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b><b>How Do Black Holes Form?<\/b><\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p> Primordial black holes are thought to have formed in the early universe, soon after the big bang.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Stellar black holes form when the center of a very massive star collapses in upon itself. This collapse also causes a supernova, or an exploding star, that blasts part of the star into space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Scientists think supermassive black holes formed at the same time as the galaxy they are in. The size of the supermassive black hole is related to the size and mass of the galaxy it is 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\/06\/blackhole_3_lrg.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/blackhole_3_lrg.jpg?w=600\" 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\/06\/blackhole_3_lrg.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/blackhole_3_lrg.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/blackhole_3_lrg.jpg?resize=300,300 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/blackhole_3_lrg.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/blackhole_3_lrg.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/blackhole_3_lrg.jpg?resize=200,200 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/blackhole_3_lrg.jpg?resize=400,400 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>If Black Holes Are \u201cBlack,\u201d How Do Scientists Know They Are There?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A black hole can not be seen because of the strong gravity that is pulling all of the light into the black hole\u2019s center. However, scientists can see the effects of its strong gravity on the stars and gases around it. If a star is orbiting a certain point in space, scientists can study the star\u2019s motion to find out if it is orbiting a black hole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When a black hole and a star are orbiting close together, high-energy light is produced. Scientific instruments can see this high-energy light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A black hole\u2019s gravity can sometimes be strong enough to pull off the outer gases of the star and grow a disk around itself called the accretion disk. As gas from the accretion disk spirals into the black hole, the gas heats to very high temperatures and releases X-ray light in all directions. NASA telescopes measure the X-ray light. Astronomers use this information to learn more about the properties of 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:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/PIA23866\/PIA23866~large.jpg?w=1920&h=1080&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/PIA23866\/PIA23866~large.jpg?w=1920&h=1080&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"A disk of hot material around a supermassive black hole emits a burst of visible light, which travels out to a ring of dust that subsequently emits infrared light.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/PIA23866\/PIA23866~large.jpg?w=1920&h=1080&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1920w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/PIA23866\/PIA23866~large.jpg?w=300&h=169&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/PIA23866\/PIA23866~large.jpg?w=768&h=432&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/PIA23866\/PIA23866~large.jpg?w=1024&h=576&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/PIA23866\/PIA23866~large.jpg?w=1536&h=864&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/PIA23866\/PIA23866~large.jpg?w=400&h=225&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/PIA23866\/PIA23866~large.jpg?w=600&h=338&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/PIA23866\/PIA23866~large.jpg?w=900&h=506&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/PIA23866\/PIA23866~large.jpg?w=1200&h=675&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Could a Black Hole Destroy Earth?<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p> Black holes do not wander around the universe, randomly swallowing worlds. They follow the laws of gravity just like other objects in space. The orbit of a black hole would have to be very close to the solar system to affect Earth, which is not likely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If a black hole with the same mass as the sun were to replace the sun, Earth would not fall in. The black hole with the same mass as the sun would keep the same gravity as the sun. The planets would still orbit the black hole as they orbit the sun now.<\/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:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/PIA19821\/PIA19821~large.jpg?w=1920&h=1920&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1920\" src=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/PIA19821\/PIA19821~large.jpg?w=1920&h=1920&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Flaring, active regions of our sun are highlighted in this image combining observations from NASA's NuSTAR. During the observations, microflares went off, which are smaller versions of the larger flares that also erupt from the sun surface.\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/PIA19821\/PIA19821~large.jpg?w=1920&h=1920&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1920w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/PIA19821\/PIA19821~large.jpg?w=150&h=150&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 150w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/PIA19821\/PIA19821~large.jpg?w=300&h=300&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/PIA19821\/PIA19821~large.jpg?w=768&h=768&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/PIA19821\/PIA19821~large.jpg?w=1024&h=1024&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/PIA19821\/PIA19821~large.jpg?w=1536&h=1536&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/PIA19821\/PIA19821~large.jpg?w=50&h=50&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 50w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/PIA19821\/PIA19821~large.jpg?w=100&h=100&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 100w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/PIA19821\/PIA19821~large.jpg?w=200&h=200&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 200w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/PIA19821\/PIA19821~large.jpg?w=400&h=400&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/PIA19821\/PIA19821~large.jpg?w=600&h=600&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/PIA19821\/PIA19821~large.jpg?w=900&h=900&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/PIA19821\/PIA19821~large.jpg?w=1200&h=1200&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">_________________________________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Words to Know<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\"><strong>red giant star:<\/strong> a star that is larger than the sun and red because it has a lower temperature<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\"><strong>white dwarf star:<\/strong> a small star, about the size of Earth;<br>one of the last stages of a star\u2019s life<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">_________________________________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b><b>Will the Sun Ever Turn Into a Black Hole?<\/b><\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p> The sun does not have enough mass to collapse into a black hole. In billions of years, when the sun is at the end of its life, it will become a <b>red giant star<\/b>. Then, when it has used the last of its fuel, it will throw off its outer layers and turn into a glowing ring of gas called a planetary nebula. Finally, all that will be left of the sun is a cooling <b>white dwarf star<\/b>.<\/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(1.3); 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 learning about black holes using spacecraft like the Chandra X-ray Observatory, the Swift satellite and the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. Fermi launched in 2008 and is observing gamma rays \u2013 the most energetic form of light \u2013 in search of supermassive black holes and other astronomical phenomena. Spacecraft like these help scientists answer questions about the origin, evolution and destiny of the universe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>More About Black Holes<\/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\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"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\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/spaceplace.nasa.gov\/black-hole-boardgame\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Fall Into a Black Hole<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jpl.nasa.gov\/edu\/learn\/slideshow\/black-holes-by-the-numbers\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.jpl.nasa.gov\/edu\/learn\/slideshow\/black-holes-by-the-numbers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Black Holes: By the Numbers Slideshow<br><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/svs.gsfc.nasa.gov\/13323\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Black Hole Travel Postcards<\/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-k-4\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/learning-resources\/for-kids-and-students\/what-is-a-black-hole-grades-k-4\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">What Is a Black Hole? (Grades K-4)<\/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-5-8\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"button-primary button-primary-md link-external-true\" aria-label=\"Explore More for Students Grades 5-8\">\n\t\t<span class=\"line-height-alt-1\">Explore More for Students Grades 5-8<\/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 5-8 A black hole is a region in space where the pulling force of gravity is so strong that light is not able to escape. The strong gravity occurs because matter has been pressed into a tiny space. This compression can take place at the end of a star\u2019s [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":48817,"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":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"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":[2849,3777,3291],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[10610,12705,4153],"coauthors":[12657],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"What Is a Black Hole? (Grades 5-8)","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/learning-resources\/for-kids-and-students\/what-is-a-black-hole-grades-5-8\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/learning-resources\/for-kids-and-students\/what-is-a-black-hole-grades-5-8\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/sgr_lg_3.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/sgr_lg_3.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 5 - 8","Explore"],"dateCreated":"2022-11-21T19:52:00Z","datePublished":"2022-11-21T19:52:00Z","dateModified":"2024-02-08T22:29:17Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"What Is a Black Hole? (Grades 5-8)\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/learning-resources\/for-kids-and-students\/what-is-a-black-hole-grades-5-8\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/sgr_lg_3.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 5 - 8,Explore\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"NASA STEM Team\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":5,"time_ago":"2 years","featured_image":{"id":48817,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/sgr_lg_3.jpg","title":"sgr_lg_3","alt":"","caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41301"}],"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\/28"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41301"}],"version-history":[{"count":29,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41301\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":612008,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41301\/revisions\/612008"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/48817"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41301"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41301"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=41301"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=41301"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=41301"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}