Here you will find descriptions and MPEG movies that take you on such exciting trips. These movies are scientifically accurate computer animations made with strict adherence to Einstein's General Theory of Relativity. The descriptions are written to be understandable on a variety of levels - from the casually curious to the professionally inquisitive. It is hoped that students from grade school to graduate school will find these virtual trips educational. References Complete postscript text Postscript Figure 3d Information and software on MPEG players are freely available from other sites.
Gravity causes stars to have multiple images.
Two images of the constellation of Orion are particularly apparent. Approaching the black hole. Approaching the photon sphere. Here Matt McIrvin answered some frequently asked questions about black holes to the internet newsgroup sci.physics. The surface of the Earth has been mapped onto the neutron star to better allow the observer to follow the visual distortion effects caused by the high gravitational field.