It’s nicknamed Jetty McJetface.
A jet of charged particles moving at almost the speed of light, made from the remnants of a star that was brutally ripped apart by a supermassive black hole, has been found to be one of the most luminous, energetic events astronomers have ever witnessed in the universe.
The jet, triggered by what astronomers refer to as a tidal disruption event (TDE), is so powerful that finding a real world phenomenon to compare it to is difficult. And so, the astronomers led by Yvette Cendes of the University of Oregon have opted to compare it to the estimated energy output of a fictional device: Star Wars’ Death Star, which can blow up entire planets.
The Power of Jetty McJetface
The TDE and associated jet is unleashing between a trillion and 100 trillion times more energy than what fan estimates claim the Death Star produces. And, as in the case of the Death Star, any planets in the way of this jet are going to be in for a rough time.
What is a Tidal Disruption Event?
A tidal disruption event occurs when a star ventures too close to a supermassive black hole and is torn apart by the black hole’s immense gravitational forces. The stellar debris is then accelerated to near-light speeds, creating powerful jets of charged particles that can extend for millions of light-years across space.
This particular event represents one of the most extreme examples of such cosmic violence ever observed, showcasing the raw power that supermassive black holes can unleash when feeding on stellar material.
