Despite the efforts of astronomers using advanced technology such as the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) Hubble and the Spitzer Space Telescope this star remained elusive and could not be observed.
N6946 BH1; The Supernova That Never Happened
The disappearance of this star has led it to be classified as a missed supernova event. Speculations suggest that of exploding into a supernova this star may have collapsed into a black hole. However these theories are merely conjectures at this point. We still lack understanding since the star only provided a brief period of illumination before fading beyond the capabilities of our telescopes. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) holds potential in unraveling this mystery.
Solving the Mystery with New Data
A study published on arXiv analyzed data obtained by the JWST. The data revealed a light source which could potentially indicate the presence of residual dust surrounding the original star. This finding aligns, with material being expelled as the brightness of the star escalated.
An Unexpected Discovery; Three Residual Objects Found
Interestingly the team of researchers discovered not one but three residual objects. In observations of N6946 BH1 these distinct sources were not distinguishable due to their combined brightness and limited resolution. This discovery has led to a hypothesis suggesting that the brightening event, in 2009 might have been triggered by the merging of two stars. It is possible that this luminous star was actually a system that intensified in brightness as the two stars merged and eventually collapsed into a black hole.
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