Astronomers Observe Star's Direct Collapse into Black Hole in Andromeda Galaxy
A massive star in the Andromeda Galaxy has been observed collapsing directly into a black hole without a supernova explosion, providing new insights into stellar death processes.
Astronomers have observed a massive star in the Andromeda Galaxy collapsing directly into a black hole without undergoing a supernova explosion. The star, designated M31-2014-DS1, was located approximately 2.5 million light-years from Earth. In 2014, it exhibited a sudden increase in infrared brightness, followed by a sharp decline in visible light by 2016, and by 2023, it had nearly vanished from optical observations.
Researchers analyzed data from NASA's NEOWISE mission and other observatories spanning from 2005 to 2023. They concluded that the star's core collapsed under gravity, forming a black hole, while its outer layers were gradually expelled, creating a shell of gas and dust. This process resulted in a lingering infrared glow detectable for years.
Kishalay De, an associate research scientist at the Simons Foundation's Flatiron Institute and lead author of the study, stated, "This is just the beginning of the story." He noted that the infrared emission from the surrounding debris would remain visible for decades, offering a benchmark for understanding black hole formation.
This observation challenges traditional models of stellar death, which typically involve a supernova explosion preceding black hole formation. The findings suggest that some massive stars may collapse directly into black holes, expanding our understanding of stellar evolution.