Set in part (a), substitute the two conserved quantities, and multiply the normalization by :
Consequently the null effective potential in Schwarzschild spacetime is
Only radii where the total radial energy is at least this effective potential are accessible.
At , measure the emission angle from the outward radial direction in a static observer's orthonormal tetrad. Local photon energy is , and its tangential momentum is . Thus its impact parameter is . Combining this with the null effective potential in Schwarzschild spacetime gives escape precisely for outward directions ; the limiting ray approaches the photon sphere and does not escape.
As the cone shrinks to zero opening. A static observer does not exist on the horizon itself, and no future-directed ray starting on the Schwarzschild event horizon reaches exterior infinity. At , the critical half-angle is ; the exactly tangential critical ray stays on the unstable circular orbit. Escape cones for a moving observer are changed by relativistic aberration.