Astronomers Observe Star's Silent Collapse into Black Hole in Andromeda Galaxy

Astronomers have observed a massive star in the Andromeda Galaxy undergoing a direct collapse into a black hole without a supernova explosion, marking the first clear instance of such an event. The star, designated M31-2014-DS1, was initially identified in 2014 when it exhibited a significant increase in infrared brightness. Subsequent observations revealed a dramatic fading in optical light, leading to its disappearance by 2023.

The research team, led by Columbia University astronomer Kishalay De, utilized archival data from NASA's NEOWISE mission, along with observations from the Hubble Space Telescope and ground-based observatories, to monitor the star's behavior over nearly a decade. Their findings suggest that M31-2014-DS1's core collapsed directly into a black hole, while its outer layers were expelled, forming a surrounding shell of gas and dust.

This event challenges traditional models of stellar death, which typically involve a supernova explosion preceding black hole formation. The observations of M31-2014-DS1 provide valuable insights into alternative pathways of black hole formation and the end stages of massive stars.

The study detailing these findings was published in the journal Science on February 12, 2026.