US Edition
Astronomers Observe Extremely Rare 'Failed Supernova' In Andromeda Galaxy
The star M31-2014-DS1 faded by over 10,000 times, collapsing quietly into a 5-solar-mass black hole with minimal material ejection, marking only the second observed failed supernova.
- Astronomers in the Andromeda Galaxy found M31-2014-DS1 vanished and collapsed into a black hole without a supernova, as published February 12, 2026, by the team led by Kishalay De in Science.
- A weak shock during core collapse meant the progenitor star released too little energy to unbind outer layers, with prior mass loss leaving a thin hydrogen envelope at collapse.
- Follow-Up observations in 2022 and 2023 showed that archival and new data from 2005–2023, including Hubble and NASA's NEOWISE, reveal about one-tenth of a solar mass ejected as dust while roughly 5 solar masses collapsed into a black hole.
- Comparisons with NGC 6946‑BH1 indicate this dataset provides the most complete observations of a failed supernova, and as astronomical surveys improve, more such events may reshape supernova rates and black hole demographics.
- Because of modeling uncertainties, accretion and mass-loss models remain unclear, but convection and angular momentum may delay collapse, with dusty debris visible decades at James Webb Space Telescope sensitivity, Kishalay De says.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Astronomers have observed a rare spectacle in the neighboring cluster of Andromeda – and the surprising thing about it: the spectacle is that almost nothing happened. A massive star, which normally explodes in a huge supernova, disappeared quietly – leaving behind a new black hole. This observation provides the most detailed picture so far of how stars become black holes. The affected sun, which was christened by researchers M31-2014-DS1, lies a…
A Massive Star Suddenly Vanished and Left a Black Hole Behind
Astronomers have witnessed a rare cosmic event: a massive star that didn’t explode in a spectacular supernova, but instead quietly collapsed into a black hole. Astronomers have directly observed a dying massive star that did not explode in a supernova. Instead, it collapsed inward, forming a black hole. The event provides the most complete set [...]
How does a black hole come about? With a bang, one might think. But now researchers have observed a star, in which the process probably took place rather gently.
The explosive end as a supernova is considered a standard for massive stars. But for the first time astronomers observe a silent collapse directly to a black hole. The discovery could solve an old mystery of astrophysics.
Study Finds
studyfinds.comAstronomers Observe Extremely Rare 'Failed Supernova' In Andromeda Galaxy
Astronomers watched a massive star in the Andromeda Galaxy vanish over a decade, providing rare evidence of a "failed supernova" forming a black hole without exploding. The post Astronomers Observe Extremely Rare ‘Failed Supernova’ In Andromeda Galaxy appeared first on StudyFinds.
How did astronomers catch a star collapsing into a black hole?
A quiet stellar death, caught through patient observation Astronomers have identified an unusual case in which a massive star appears to have vanished without the bright supernova explosion normally expected. Instead of detonating, the star’s core seems to have collapsed directly into a black hole…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 40% of the sources are Center, 40% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
