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KellyTheET t1_iv53ls6 wrote

Is there a way to detect movement of a black hole? I understand we use the redshift/blueshift of the light emitted by an object to gage their direction, but what if it doesn't emit light?

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f_d t1_iv7bp16 wrote

I am not an astronomer, but this particular black hole has a star orbiting it indicating the position of the hidden black hole. Measuring that star's movement should be straightforward enough. Knowing the location of the black hole but without the companion as a guide, they might also be able to watch for hints of it if it ever passes in front of more distant visible objects. Those hints could be compared over time to see if it was growing larger or smaller relative to us. I don't know what the relative movement of a black hole would do to the shifting of the light bending around it.

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