Star Gives Birth to Possible Black Hole in Hubble and Spitzer Images

Witness the cosmic spectacle as a massive star orchestrates its final act, birthing what could potentially be a black hole. Dive into the captivating imagery from the Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes, capturing the awe-inspiring journey of a stellar giant on the cusp of a transformative metamorphosis. Explore the interplay of light and shadow in the birthplace of potential cosmic marvels. A team of astronomers at The Ohio State University watched a star disappear and possibly become a black hole. Instead of becoming a black hole through the expected process of a supernova, the black hole candidate formed through a "failed supernova." The team used NASA's Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes and the Large Binocular Telescope to observe and monitor the star throughout the past decade. If confirmed, this would be the first time anyone has witnessed the birth of a black hole and the first discovery of a failed supernova.

Read more: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/collapsi...

Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Katrina Jackson

Music Credits: "High Heelz" by Donn Wilerson [BMI] and Lance Sumner [BMI]; Killer Tracks BMI; Killer Tracks Production Music

This video is public domain and along with other supporting visualizations can be downloaded from the Scientific Visualization Studio at: http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12621