drawback must be mentioned. At this time one cannot visualize anastronomer being compressed to the densities found within a black hole. However,this should not be considered an impossibility, for this concept possesses many fascinating overtones. One must remember that if we move with the speed of light,time literally stops, dimensions in the direction of motion shrink to zero, and mass becomes infinite. One cannot help concluding that an astronaut traveling at the speed of light would have zero dimension with infinite mass. There is one difference--The singularity is a point while the astronaut becomes a line at the speed of light.Theory tells us that even though the astronaut was compressed to a line-this is what we on the outside world would see, if indeed it were possible to see him-the fast-moving astronaut would mot notice any difference in shape, motion, or time. Thisexposition gives rise to a most intriguing thought. Perhaps at some future date, by moving just within the gravitational radius, an astronaut may be able to move to another universe.(Levitt 93-94) Gravitational Collapse is the catastrophic fate that befalls a massive object when it's gravity completely overwhelms all other forces. During most of a star's lifetime, it's tendency to contract as a result of it's gravity is balanced by the outward pressure produced by the heat of it's nuclear reactions. Eventually, however, the nuclear fuel will be exhausted. If the star's mass is less than about 3 solar masses, it will eventuallycontract to a stable configuration as either a white dwarf (about the size of Earth but hundreds of thousands times denser) or a neutron star (a similar mass compressed intoa sphere only a few miles across). More massive stars, however, will continue to shrinkeven further when their thermal and rotational energy is exhausted. Unless the starsheds its excess mass, gravity will overcome all conceivable forces and gravitationalcoll...
