# This supernova impostor baffled astronomers for 15 years — until they found a hidden black hole feeding on an unstable star

Source: [Latest from Space.com](https://www.space.com/astronomy/black-holes/this-supernova-impostor-baffled-astronomers-for-15-years-until-they-found-a-hidden-black-hole-feeding-on-an-unstable-star) · 2026-11-12 · Space
Page: https://themorning.science/story/this-supernova-impostor-baffled-astronomers-for-15-years-until-they-found-a-hidd-b6e4e4ca8ea8915a
Kind: research · Impact: medium

## In 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.

## Timeline

- 2026-11-12: Space.com reports Chandra findings on the supernova impostor

## Coverage

- [This supernova impostor baffled astronomers for 15 years — until they found a hidden black hole feeding on an unstable star](https://www.space.com/astronomy/black-holes/this-supernova-impostor-baffled-astronomers-for-15-years-until-they-found-a-hidden-black-hole-feeding-on-an-unstable-star) — Latest from Space.com, 2026-11-12

Tags: supernova impostor, black hole, x-ray astronomy, unstable stars, chandra

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Brief generated by AI (claude-haiku-5-5) from the reporting listed under Coverage. Headlines belong to their publishers. The Morning Science – https://themorning.science