A black hole cannot be viewed directly because light cannot escape it. However, matter swirling around a black hole, usually gas and dust, heats up and emits radiation that can be detected. However, deep in the center of a supermassive black hole, stars can also be found.

Stars are powered by nuclear fuel; most stars use hydrogen. The larger a star is, the faster it will use up its fuel, and thus, the sooner it "dies". If the stars are large enough, however, then the gravitational pull will crush the star to 'zero volume', or in the Schwarzschild radius. This forms a black hole.

By using the correct equations for motion, it can be predicted that near a black hole, an object on a radial path will have a velocity approaching the speed of light. This occurs as the object approaches the event horizon.

The center of a black hole, the singularity, is the point where the laws of physics break down. These singularities are hidden, or 'clothed' by the black hole, so that the effects of the breakdown cannot be observed by people outside.

Black holes can suck up other black holes when they come in close proximity. Usually the larger one will suck up the smaller one. Depending on the size of the matter that is making up the black holes, the size of the black hole created will differ. Direct collisions between black holes are rare, as black holes are very small for their mass. Black holes may also merge.

Although whiteholes are mathematically possible, there have yet to be observations to prove their existence.

In theory, any matter can become black holes, as long as they are compressed to zero volume and thus, yielding infinite density. However, only the largest of stars have cores capable with the gravitational force to compress the star to the Schwarzschild radius. Most others stars without this gravitational force end up as neutron stars and white dwarfs.

Although black holes have a strong suction force, they may only suck up what crosses their event horizons, and, therefore, are not capable of absorbing the whole universe.

The closest known black hole to Earth is Cygnus X-1, located about 8000 light years away.

In the strictest and most exact sense, there are currently 14 known black holes.

Eris takes approximately 550 earth years to orbit the sun. The majority of the time, it is further from the sun than Pluto, but for a short time, it is closer.

In January 2005, astronomers in the United States discovered a new body orbiting the sun in our solar system. They named this planetoid, Eris after the Greek goddess of strife.

Pluto’s orbit sometimes brings it closer to the Sun than Neptune. It crossed Neptune's orbit on September 5, 1989 and remained closer until February, 1999.

Like Jupiter, Neptune has a dark spot caused by a storm. Neptune's spot is smaller than Jupiter's -- it is only about the size of the planet earth.

Uranus’ axis is at a 97 degree angle, meaning that it orbits lying on its side! Talk about a lazy planet.

The ring that surrounds Saturn could be the remnants of a moon that was shattered by Saturn's gravity.

Saturn is the second biggest planet, but it’s also the lightest planet. If there was a bathtub big enough to hold Saturn, it would float in the water!

Jupiter is so big that you could fit all the other planets in the solar system inside it. The red spot of Jupiter is the biggest, most violent storm in the known universe -- that spot is at least three times the size of earth!

Between Mars and Jupiter, is a Dwarf Planet known as Ceres. It was discovered in 1801. It is the smallest dwarf planet discovered in our universe (so far) and is the only one found in the asteroid belt.

Mars is the home of "Olympus Mons", the largest volcano found in the solar system. It stands about 27 kilometers high with a crater 81 kilometers wide.

Earth has more exposed water than land. Three quarters of the Earth is covered by water!

Venus is the solar system's brightest planet -- yellow clouds of sulfuric acid reflect the Sun's light brightly.

Venus is the brightest planet in our sky and can sometimes be seen during the day if you know where to look. urrently it is visible in the east after sunset.

Happy Perihelion! Earth will reach the point in it's orbit closest to the sun at 7pm CT.