Astronomers record the largest black hole explosion ever seen in the Universe
Astronomers have detected the most energetic explosion ever observed, originating from a supermassive black hole 11 billion light years from Earth. The event, recorded in 2018, reached a brightness 10 trillion times greater than that of the Sun, according to a study published in the journal Nature Astronomy. The explosion resulted from the destruction of a star with at least 30 times the solar mass, attracted by the black hole’s gravity. The phenomenon, still ongoing, is expected to last 11 years.
The flash was captured by telescopes in California, Arizona and Hawaii, revealing details about the interaction between the star and the black hole. Researchers have ruled out other causes, such as supernovae or gravitational lensing, confirming the origin in stellar material.
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- Event occurred in a distant galaxy, at an earlier time in the Universe.
- Black hole has an estimated mass of 300 million times that of the Sun.
- Flash reached peak luminosity 30 times greater than similar events.
Origin of the phenomenon
The star, possibly up to 200 times the mass of the Sun, was destroyed as it approached the black hole. Intense gravity stretched it, turning it into filaments of heated gas.
This process, known as tidal disruption, generated the flash by spiraling material toward the black hole.
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Observation process
High-precision telescopes have monitored the event since 2018. The flash gradually increased, reaching its peak in June of that year. The study ruled out alternative explanations based on data collected. Continued analysis shows that the luminosity is slowly decreasing.
Star Interaction
A collision with another celestial body may have changed the star’s orbit. The elliptical trajectory took it close to the black hole, resulting in its destruction. The stellar material formed an accretion disk around the black hole. The energy released came from heating the gas during the process.
Characteristics of the black hole
Supermassive black holes, like the one observed, reside in the centers of galaxies. They attract gas, dust and stars, forming disks of material in their orbit.
Giant stars and rarity
Stars with such high mass are rare in the Universe. They are born less frequently and have a short lifespan, making them difficult to observe. The proximity to the black hole may have increased its mass over time, attracting material from the accretion disk.
