Astronomers have observed a rare event in which a star was swallowed by a black hole and produced a supernova explosion. The event, known as a tidal disruption event, occurred in a galaxy 215 million light-years away from Earth.
During the event, the black hole's intense gravitational forces tore apart the star, causing its material to heat up and emit bright radiation. As the star's debris fell into the black hole, it produced a flare that lasted for several months.
The researchers were able to study the event in detail using several telescopes, including the Zwicky Transient Facility and the Keck Observatory. They found that the star was likely a helium-rich star, which is a type of star that is relatively rare in the universe.
The observations also provided insight into the properties of the black hole itself. The black hole was found to have a mass of about 1 million times that of the sun, which is relatively small for a black hole. The researchers also found that the black hole was spinning rapidly, which suggests that it may have formed from the merger of two smaller black holes.
The event is significant for astronomers because it provides a rare opportunity to study the properties of black holes and the behavior of stars in extreme environments. It also has implications for our understanding of the evolution of galaxies, as black holes play a key role in shaping the structure and dynamics of galaxies over time.
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