BLACK HOLE

2013

Black Hole Simulation
HD Video, 10:00,
2013

Installation View

Brownsville Museum of Art, Brownsville TX
2014

Leonardo, Cover
Installation View
2016

Installation View

Emerson Ballroom, Bozeman MT
2013

This generative animation is part of a larger multi-faceted installation called Black (W)hole. Originally commissioned for the Celebrating Einstein conference at Montana State University, the installation has traveled to science institutions and art museums around the US and internationally.

This simulation depicts a dynamically generated model of a black hole, and its accretion disc of gas and dust. Also visible is the “Zoom Whirl Orbit” of a second smaller black hole. This spiral shape is specific to the orbits of black holes, and is responsible for creating gravitational waves.

This project was created using the Processing programming language. The project was made possible through funding from the National Science Foundation.

Simulation Collaborators:
Nico Yunes
Sara Mast
Jason Bolte

Black (W)hole Team:
Nico Yunes
Sara Mast
Jason Bolte
Jessica Jellison
Cindy Stillwell
Charles Kankelborg
Joey Schapiro Key