Black Hole Friday: Nasa snubs sales to look into space instead

Nasa has opted to remind us of the size of the universe, rather than engage in Black Friday madness

Nasa has opted to share pictures of Black Holes rather than indulge in the day of sales

“A black hole is a region in space where the pulling force of gravity is so strong that light is not able to escape,” says Nasa. A Black Friday sale has much the same pulling force, and Nasa is celebrating the two as it runs its second Black Hole Friday today.

The American space agency is using the day — better known for bargain offers and hellish sales — to talk about black holes instead.

Much as retail staff on Black Friday might want the shopping day to be swallowed by one, Nasa says that it is unlikely that Earth will ever be eaten by a black hole. The orbit of a black hole would have to be very close to the solar system to affect Earth, which is not likely,” it says.

Nasa’s Twitter account, @NASA, will be posting information on black holes throughout the day.

While Nasa’s astronauts will be unable to take part in Black Friday (or, hopefully, Black Hole Friday), they did manage to eat a Thanksgiving dinner yesterday. The menu included irradiated turkey, freeze-dried mushrooms and thermostabilised yams.