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$\begingroup$ and not just an X-ray source. The event horizon emits all over the spectrum, wouldn't be surprised if all the space dust and other objects being sucked towards it will cause it to emit light in the visual spectrum as well. $\endgroup$
– jwenting
Commented Jul 20, 2021 at 12:41
1

$\begingroup$ Yes, it will look like a star. Brighter and brighter. No, I think we will never be able to resolve the accretion disk with naked eye - the Earth will be blown into pieces before that (tidal forces) and the atmosphere will be long gone even before that (x-rays). And I think there is no safe distance for a human to see the stellar black hole accretion disk. $\endgroup$
– fraxinus
Commented Jul 21, 2021 at 13:19
1

$\begingroup$ The smaller the black hole, the brighter is the black hole itself (Hawking radiation). But we are not aware of any black hole that has even theoretically detectable Hawking radiation. The properties of the accretion disk depend on a lot of factors that I am not competent to comment, but the main factor in their brightness/luminosity is the matter available for accretion. Bigger (heavier) black holes are brighter as a matter of scale (they attract matter from bigger volume of space). $\endgroup$
– fraxinus
Commented Jul 21, 2021 at 19:15
1

$\begingroup$ @PM2Ring ...only to see how much unimportant is the Hawking radiation in the context of the question. $\endgroup$
– fraxinus
Commented Jul 26, 2021 at 6:59
1

$\begingroup$ @A.Kvåle in these terms, smaller black holes release more Hawking radiation because of stronger tidal effect near the event horizon. $\endgroup$
– fraxinus
Commented Jul 27, 2021 at 7:47

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