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Black Hole Caught Red-Handed in a Stellar Homicide

NASA image release May 2, 2012

 

View an hd video of this event here: www.flickr.com/photos/gsfc/6990040586

 

This computer-simulated image shows gas from a tidally shredded star falling into a black hole. Some of the gas also is being ejected at high speeds into space. Astronomers observed a flare in ultraviolet and optical light from the gas falling into the black hole and glowing helium from the stars's helium-rich gas expelled from the system.

 

Credit: NASA; S. Gezari, The Johns Hopkins University; and J. Guillochon, University of California, Santa Cruz

 

To read more go to: www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hubble/science/star-shredding....

 

NASA image use policy.

 

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.

 

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Uploaded on May 2, 2012
Taken on April 25, 2012