In 2009, a massive star named N6946-BH1 baffled astronomers when it suddenly brightened but then faded without exploding into a supernova. The star’s disappearance led researchers to speculate that it had collapsed into a black hole, but this was only conjecture. However, recent observations made by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have shed new light on the matter. The JWST’s data showed a bright infrared source that is likely a remnant dust shell surrounding the star’s original position, suggesting that material was ejected as the star brightened. Surprisingly, the team also discovered three remnant objects, making the failed supernova model less plausible. Instead, it is now believed that the brightening was caused by a stellar merger—a system of two stars becoming one—before fading. This finding adds complexity to our understanding of supernovae and stellar-mass black holes. Further research will be conducted to differentiate between stellar mergers and true failed supernovae, offering insight into the last stages of stars as they transform into black holes.
https://www.universetoday.com/163473/astronomers-watched-a-massive-star-just-disappear-now-jwst-might-have-some-answers/