Summary
Scientists observed the brightest flare ever seen from a supermassive black hole, located 10 billion light years away. This flare, which glowed as bright as 10 trillion suns, was likely caused by a star getting too close and being torn apart.
Key Facts
- Scientists saw the brightest flare yet from a supermassive black hole.
- The black hole is 10 billion light years away.
- The flare shone with the light equivalent to 10 trillion suns.
- This cosmic event can be caused by magnetic field disturbances or gas disks around black holes.
- The flare was noticed in 2018 by a camera at California's Palomar Observatory.
- It took around three months to reach peak brightness and has faded since.
- Researchers think the flare resulted from a star being pulled apart.
- The research was published in the journal Nature Astronomy.
