Hubble Captures Rare Event: Star Eaten By a Black Hole 300 Million Light Years Away
Editor: Akanksha Choudhary
What is a Black Hole?
* Black holes are regions in space where gravity is so strong that not even light can escape
* Black holes are formed when massive stars die and collapse in on themselves
What is a Black Hole?* Black holes are regions in space where gravity is so strong that not even light can escape* Black holes are formed when massive stars die and collapse in on themselves
What is Tidal Disruption Event?
What is Tidal Disruption Event?
* A Tidal Disruption Event (TDE) occurs when a star gets too close to a black hole
* The black hole's gravity causes the star to be torn apart
* A Tidal Disruption Event (TDE) occurs when a star gets too close to a black hole* The black hole's gravity causes the star to be torn apart
Observing TDEs with the Hubble Space Telescope
Observing TDEs with the Hubble Space Telescope
* The Hubble Space Telescope has been able to capture a TDE in progress
* The TDE occurred 300 million light years away
* The Hubble Space Telescope has been able to capture a TDE in progress* The TDE occurred 300 million light years away
Key Finding:
* The TDE lasted for more than a year
* The disrupted star's debris formed an accretion disk around the black hole
Key Finding:* The TDE lasted for more than a year* The disrupted star's debris formed an accretion disk around the black hole
Implications of TDEs
* TDEs can provide new insights into the behavior of black holes.
* TDEs can also help scientists study the properties of accretion disks
Implications of TDEs* TDEs can provide new insights into the behavior of black holes. * TDEs can also help scientists study the properties of accretion disks