How to Know You Are Approaching a Black Hole

Know If You Are Approaching a Black Hole

• 1

  Watch for stars to start shifting as you come under the gravitational pull of the black hole. Depending on your trajectory through space the first subtle pulls may not be obvious, but eventually it should be clear that you're caught in a gravitational field that is different from your previous trajectory.

• 2

  Try to escape the gravitational pull of the black hole with your space transportation as soon as you realize that you might be caught in the pull of a black hole. With each passing second it becomes more and more difficult to do so, so sooner is better than later.

• 3

  Notice a sensation of stretching as you are pulled closer to the black hole. This phenomenon is called tidal forces, and it simply is the very slight difference in the power of a gravitational force between one side of an object and another. Tidal force is common, but what isn't common is the extremes you will experience while getting closer to a black hole. You will also begin to be squished from the sides. The squishing combined with the stretching is called spaghettification.

• 4

  Try to withstand the pain that builds as the tidal force increases and your body is stretched while being squished from either side. If for some reason you have ever been tortured on a rack then the feeling is probably at least somewhat familiar. The pain will gradually increase, and you may pass out from the pain or from internal damage to your body.

• 5

  Take your last good look around, because eventually the forces holding your body together become less powerful than the tidal forces stretching it apart, and your body separates in to two or more very squished pieces. You have experienced spaghettification. The pieces of your body will eventually redivide, but if the trauma hasn't killed you by now, your space suit is no doubt ripped and you've run out of oxygen to breath.