3 ms·

Does the accretion disk emit light, or is the light source coming from somewhere else? (i.e. if the accretion disk is just cosmic dust why would one expect to s

Does the accretion disk emit light, or is the light source coming from somewhere else? (i.e. if the accretion disk is just cosmic dust why would one expect to see the disk?)

wiml 7y ago
Parts of the accretion disk get hot enough to emit light.
cyphar 7y ago
Yes, the accretion disk emits light because the matter in the accretion disk is very hot. This is a combination of friction as well as the compression of the material by gravity.