<p>From the Wikipedia <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_hole" rel="nofollow noreferrer">black hole</a> article</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/DQDl6.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/DQDl6.png" alt="M87* black hole"></a> </p>

<p>This is a picture of a real black hole.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-30T04:51:55.420Z
That's an image of the M87* supermassive black hole, but it was created using radiotelescopes. The OP is asking about the *visual* appearance of a black hole to the human eye, not what it looks like in the microwave band. BTW, you should not post images on Stack Exchange sites without giving the source of the image (and a link, if the source is online).
PM 2Ring
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-30T03:41:39.170Z
2020-01-31T07:43:17.877Z
2020-01-31T07:43:17.877Z
Daosof
<p><a href="https://youtu.be/l36UkYtq6m0" rel="nofollow noreferrer">This simulation</a> (video link) has been made to show what a black hole might look like seen from different angles.</p>
<p>From <a href="https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap200825.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">APOD</a> :</p>
<blockquote>
<p>If the black hole was surrounded by a swirling disk of glowing and accreting gas, then the great gravity of the black hole would deflect light emitted by the disk to make it look very unusual. [...]  Surrounding the central black hole is a thin circular image of the orbiting disk that marks the position of the photon sphere -- inside of which lies the black hole's event horizon. Toward the left, parts of the large main image of the disk appear brighter as they move toward you.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-25T14:39:31.517Z
2020-08-25T14:39:31.517Z
usernumber
<p>Is there a safe distance in which a black hole can be observed with the human eye? What is a safe distance?</p>

<p>I have seen many computer simulated and artist renditions, and I am not sure if they depicted the true colors and shape of BH. </p>

<p>Below I have a few of examples of what may a BH may look like rendered.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/JCeS1.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/JCeS1.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a>
How light from the accretion disk maybe refracted by gravitational lensing.
<a href="http://www.physics.utah.edu/~bromley/blackhole/index.html" rel="noreferrer">http://www.physics.utah.edu/~bromley/blackhole/index.html</a></p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/AcIix.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/AcIix.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a>
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/F0Wl2.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/F0Wl2.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a>
<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-38937141" rel="noreferrer">https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-38937141</a></p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/FxEHM.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/FxEHM.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a>
<a href="https://www.nasa.gov/connect/chat/black_hole_chat.html" rel="noreferrer">https://www.nasa.gov/connect/chat/black_hole_chat.html</a></p>

<p>Should these models be mixed to make a more complete rendition of a BH?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-12T19:58:04.653Z
this is a great question
Fattie
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-13T02:36:38.443Z
Yes. There are a lot of crap depictions of black holes out there, and I think a list of pictures, both good and bad, would be helpful for the general public who search for them.
Ingolifs
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-13T08:59:57.983Z
Apparently fictional Gargantuan from the movie Interstellar is a good simulation. I would expect something more on line with the top picture, with Doppler like shifts. I would say that any decent pic should be seen keeping in mind what exact phenomenon has been simulated (synchrotron rad, emission from external matter, rotation....) of it is supposed to be a global rendering in the vis.
Alchimista
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-13T10:19:52.633Z
The question in the body and in the title of the question are different. Which one do you want to ask?
usernumber
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-13T10:21:28.280Z
You might be interested in https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0264-9381/32/6/065001/pdf
usernumber
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-30T17:45:10.847Z
Black holes are not visible. So the answer depends on what is around them and behind them.
ProfRob
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-31T08:37:32.447Z
The first question in the body post doesn't match the question in the title.
usernumber
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-25T15:14:49.343Z
APOD today: Visualization: A Black Hole Accretion Disk: https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap200825.html
Wayfaring Stranger
<black-hole><light><gravitational-lensing><modeling>
What is the actual visual characteristics of a black hole?
Muze
# What is the actual visual characteristics of a black hole?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-04-12)

Is there a safe distance in which a black hole can be observed with the human eye? What is a safe distance?

I have seen many computer simulated and artist renditions, and I am not sure if they depicted the true colors and shape of BH.

Below I have a few of examples of what may a BH may look like rendered.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/JCeS1.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/JCeS1.jpg)
How light from the accretion disk maybe refracted by gravitational lensing.
<http://www.physics.utah.edu/~bromley/blackhole/index.html>

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/AcIix.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/AcIix.jpg)
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/F0Wl2.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/F0Wl2.jpg)
<https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-38937141>

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/FxEHM.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/FxEHM.jpg)
<https://www.nasa.gov/connect/chat/black_hole_chat.html>

Should these models be mixed to make a more complete rendition of a BH?

**Tags:** black-hole, light, gravitational-lensing, modeling

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: this is a great question  
> **username_2**: Yes. There are a lot of crap depictions of black holes out there, and I think a list of pictures, both good and bad, would be helpful for the general public who search for them.  
> **username_3**: Apparently fictional Gargantuan from the movie Interstellar is a good simulation. I would expect something more on line with the top picture, with Doppler like shifts. I would say that any decent pic should be seen keeping in mind what exact phenomenon has been simulated (synchrotron rad, emission from external matter, rotation....) of it is supposed to be a global rendering in the vis.  
> **username_4**: The question in the body and in the title of the question are different. Which one do you want to ask?  
> **username_4**: You might be interested in https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0264-9381/32/6/065001/pdf  
> **username_5**: Black holes are not visible. So the answer depends on what is around them and behind them.  
> **username_4**: The first question in the body post doesn't match the question in the title.  
> **username_6**: APOD today: Visualization: A Black Hole Accretion Disk: https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap200825.html  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_7 on 2020-01-30. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

From the Wikipedia [black hole](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_hole) article

[![M87* black hole](https://i.sstatic.net/DQDl6.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/DQDl6.png)

This is a picture of a real black hole.

> **Comments:**
> **username_8**: That's an image of the M87* supermassive black hole, but it was created using radiotelescopes. The OP is asking about the *visual* appearance of a black hole to the human eye, not what it looks like in the microwave band. BTW, you should not post images on Stack Exchange sites without giving the source of the image (and a link, if the source is online).  

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### Answer by username_4 on 2020-08-25. Score: 2

[This simulation](https://youtu.be/l36UkYtq6m0) (video link) has been made to show what a black hole might look like seen from different angles.

From [APOD](https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap200825.html) :

> If the black hole was surrounded by a swirling disk of glowing and accreting gas, then the great gravity of the black hole would deflect light emitted by the disk to make it look very unusual. [...] Surrounding the central black hole is a thin circular image of the orbiting disk that marks the position of the photon sphere -- inside of which lies the black hole's event horizon. Toward the left, parts of the large main image of the disk appear brighter as they move toward you.


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