Home
Science
Science News
Astronomers Witness Rare Failed Supernova in Andromeda Galaxy

Astronomers Witness Rare Failed Supernova in Andromeda Galaxy

NASA’s NEOWISE telescope has documented the disappearance of massive star M31-2014-DS1 in the Andromeda galaxy.

Written by Gadgets 360 Staff | Updated: 13 February 2026 22:03 IST

Astronomers Witness Rare Failed Supernova in Andromeda Galaxy

Photo Credit: Keith Miller, Caltech/IPAC – SELab

At the center, a hot, dense ball of gas continues to fall inward, feeding the newly formed black hole.

Click Here to Add Gadgets360 As A Trusted Source

Highlights

NEOWISE tracks massive star fading in Andromeda
Star M31-2014-DS1 collapsed without supernova blast
Infrared data reveal rare failed-supernova event

Recently, the NEOWISE, an infrared telescope owned by NASA, has witnessed the quiet disappearance of a massive star in the Andromeda galaxy. Initially, the massive star, dubbed M31-2014-DS1, was emitting visible light in the infrared band but had dimmed by 10,000 times in the visible band by 2023. Astronomers have concluded that M31-2014-DS1 apparently collapsed straight into a black hole instead of having a traditional “supernova.”

Infrared Clues from a Disappearing Star

According to the Archival data from NEOWISE telescopes, the mysterious brightness of the star in infrared light, observed around 2014, was due to hot dust emitted by a shedding process. By 2023, there was practically nothing left from its visible light, which is also in line with the predictions that a calm collapse should leave only a faint afterglow in infrared light. These were pieced together by combining other telescope data.

A Quiet Collapse to a Black Hole

Artist's concept shows a star shedding gas and dust as its core collapses into a black hole. Instead of exploding, the star collapsed quietly into a black hole. Unlike a tidal disruption event (a star ripped apart by a black hole), this produced no brilliant flash. Astronomers had only one earlier candidate for such a failed supernova (in a galaxy about 10 times farther). Instead, it fits the failed-supernova model: the star ran out of fuel, and its weak shock couldn't expel its envelope, so the core collapsed inward. This is the clearest example yet of a star turning into a black hole, helping scientists understand how many massive stars may fade unnoticed. Quiet collapses may be more common than realised.

NASA Successfully Tests Drag-Reducing Laminar-Flow Wing in Flight

Comments

Get your daily dose of tech news, reviews, and insights, in under 80 characters on Gadgets 360 Turbo. Connect with fellow tech lovers on our Forum. Follow us on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News for instant updates. Catch all the action on our YouTube channel.

Further reading: Neowise, Andromeda Galaxy, Failed Supernova, Black Hole Formation, NASA, Massive Star, Infrared Astronomy, Stellar Collapse, M31-2014-DS1, Space discovery