X Rays Indicate Star Ripped Up by Black Hole
Credit & Copyright: M. Weiss, CXC,
NASA
Explanation:
What could rip a star apart?
A
black hole.
Giant
black holes in just the right mass range would
pull on the front of a closely passing star much more
strongly than on the back.
Such a strong
tidal force would stretch out a star and
likely cause some of the star's gasses to fall into the black hole.
The
infalling gas has been predicted
to emit just the same blast of
X-rays that have
recently been seen in the center of galaxy
RX J1242-11.
Above, an artist's
illustration depicts the
sequence of destruction (assuming that
image-distorting gravitational-lens effects of the
black hole are somehow turned off).
Most of the stellar remains would be flung out into the galaxy.
Such events are rare, occurring perhaps only
one in 10,000 years for typical
black holes at the center of
typical galaxies.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
