Black hole eats star
The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has pinpointed the source of one of the most puzzling blast of high-energy radiation ever observed. It is at the very center of a small, distant galaxy, which appears to be sending a beam of radiation directly toward Earth.
This diagram explains how a star being torn apart by a black hole’s gravitational force is thought likely to be the cause of a powerful beam of X-rays and gamma rays which is pointed towards Earth. If confirmed, this would be the first time this phenomenon has been observed.
Credit:NASA, ESA and A. Feild (STScI)
About the Image
NASA press release
Id: | ann1108b |
Type: | Artwork |
Release date: | 7 April 2011, 15:00 |
Related announcements: | ann1108 |
Size: | 2996 x 1165 px |
About the Object
Name: | GRB 110328A |
Type: | Early Universe : Cosmology : Phenomenon : Gamma Ray Burst |
Distance: | 4 billion light years |
Category: | Cosmology |