Research
This supernova impostor baffled astronomers for 15 years — until they found a hidden black hole feeding on an unstable star
Space.com · By Keith Cooper ·
The Brief
- Chandra X-ray Observatory data indicate a supernova impostor is a hot, luminous, unstable star.
- The star is reportedly being fed by a black hole or neutron star companion.
- The object has produced apparent supernova-like outbursts 27 times, according to the source.
Why it matters
It shows how a compact companion can drive repeated outbursts that mimic supernovae, which matters for classifying transient events and interpreting their light curves.
Who’s affected
- astronomers studying transient and stellar explosions
- X-ray astronomers using Chandra data
- #supernova impostor
- #black hole
- #x-ray astronomy
- #unstable stars
- #chandra
A cosmic imposter that has faked being a supernova 27 times and counting is actually a hot, luminous, and decidedly unstable star that is being fed on by a vampiric black hole or neutron star, NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory has discovered. When a massive star reaches the end of…
Timeline
Space.com reports Chandra findings on the supernova impostor
Latest from Space.com
This supernova impostor baffled astronomers for 15 years — until they found a hidden black hole feeding on an unstable star