Hubble image archive
N6946-BH1 Failed Supernova (Artist's Illustration)
Massive Star Goes Out With a Whimper Instead of a Bang (Artist's Illustration) This illustration shows the final stages in the life of a supermassive star that fails to explode as a supernova but instead implodes under gravity to form a black hole. From left to right: the massive...
- Date
- Jan 1, 2017
- Mission
- Hubble Space Telescope
- Archive ID
- hubblesite-images-2017-19-4035-image
Massive Star Goes Out With a Whimper Instead of a Bang (Artist's Illustration)
This illustration shows the final stages in the life of a supermassive star that fails to explode as a supernova but instead implodes under gravity to form a black hole. From left to right: the massive star has evolved to a red supergiant, the envelope of the star is ejected and expands, producing a cold, red transient source surrounding the newly formed black hole. Some residual material may fall onto the black hole, as illustrated by the stream and the disk, potentially powering some optical and infrared emissions years after the collapse.
Credits
NASA, ESA, and P. Jeffries (STScI)Image Details
| About The Object | |
|---|---|
| Object Name | N6946-BH1 Failed Supernova (Artist's Illustration) |
| Object Description | N6946-BH1 Failed Supernova, Disappeared Star, Black Hole |
| R.A. Position | 20h 35m 27.56s |
| Dec. Position | +60° 08' 08.29" |
| Constellation | Draco |
| Distance | 22 million light-years (6.7 megaparsecs) |
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Source
Image and source material are credited to the official mission archive linked below.
View on NASA.gov