Space Technology & Exploration

The Mathematics of Black Hole Orbits

The Mathematics of Black Hole Orbits

Black holes are often imagined as cosmic vacuum cleaners that swallow everything nearby. In reality, their behavior is far more subtle—and far more mathematical. Objects can orbit black holes, sometimes for long periods, sometimes only briefly, before plunging inward or escaping forever. Understanding these motions requires some of the most beautiful and challenging mathematics in…