Failed supernova N6946-BH1, illustration. From left to right, the sequence shows the final stages in the life of a supermassive star that failed to explode as a supernova but instead implodes under gravity to form a black hole. At far left, the massive star has evolved to a red supergiant. Then the star's outer layer is ejected and expands, producing an expanding cloud around the newly formed black hole. Some material may fall onto the black hole, producing high-energy emissions following the collapse. This black hole is 22 million light years from Earth, in the constellation Draco.

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Photo credit: © NASA, ESA, and P. Jeffries (STScI)/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: -, 5, 2017, artwork, astronomical, astronomy, astrophysical, astrophysics, background, black, dead, draco, evolution, expanding, failed, giant, hole, illustration, n6946-bh1, partial, red, sequence, series, shell, space, star, stellar, supergiant, supernova, universe