Star met spectacular fate: death by supermassive black hole
by Ian Sample Science editor from on (#24ZNH)
Scientists believe star suffered rare fate of passing too close to supermassive black hole, releasing flash of light half a trillion times brighter than the sun
It was one of the most spectacular deaths in the known universe: an enormous star in a distant galaxy met its doom and as a parting shot released a brilliant flash of light half a trillion times brighter than the sun.
The cosmic display was described as a record-breaking supernova by astronomers who studied the event last year. But according to fresh observations, this was no common or garden stellar explosion. Instead, the intense burst of light which outshone the whole Milky Way came from a star that suffered a much rarer fate: death by supermassive black hole.