14/10/2024
Astronomers witnessed the unexpected awakening of a massive black hole, a million times the mass of our sun, located in a distant galaxy.
For decades, the galaxy named SDSS1335+0728 showed no unusual activity.
However, at the end of 2019, scientists observed a dramatic increase in its brightness, a phenomenon that continues today. This unprecedented event is believed to be caused by the black hole at the galaxy's center actively consuming vast amounts of material, creating a cosmic light show as the gas heats up and glows. This process, known as an "active galactic nucleus," emits a broad spectrum of light, including infrared, ultraviolet, and X-ray wavelengths. While an active galactic nucleus is the most likely explanation for the galaxy's sudden brightening, scientists haven't ruled out another possibility: a tidal disruption event, which occurs when a star is torn apart after venturing too close to a black hole. When a star ventures too close to a massive black hole, the immense gravitational forces begin to stretch and distort the star in a process called spaghettification. The star is pulled apart, forming a long stream of gas that gets whipped around the black hole. This collision of gas streams generates shock waves and outward flows, emitting intense radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum, from visible light to X-rays. This violent cosmic event, known as a tidal disruption event, temporarily brightens the surrounding galaxy as the black hole consumes the stellar debris. Further observations and measurements are needed to confirm the exact cause of this extraordinary cosmic event.
