The animation depicts a stellar tidal disruptor, a phenomenon that occurs when a star is torn apart by the intense gravitational forces of a black hole. This event is triggered when a star, after interacting gravitationally with another star or massive object, is pulled toward the black hole’s maw, a process known as spaghettification.
Spaghettification
As the star approaches the black hole, the intense gravitational forces begin to stretch and pull the star, causing it to become long and thin, resembling a piece of spaghetti. This process is known as spaghettification, and it occurs because the gravitational pull on the side of the star closest to the black hole is much stronger than the pull on the side farthest from the black hole.
Tidal Disruption
As the star continues to be stretched and pulled, it eventually reaches a point where the gravitational forces overcome the star’s own internal forces, and the star is torn apart. This is known as a tidal disruption event, and it can release a burst of energy that is visible from Earth as a bright flare of light.
Accretion Disk
The debris from the torn-apart star then forms an accretion disk around the black hole, as the material is drawn in and heated up by the intense gravitational forces. This accretion disk can emit a significant amount of radiation, which can be detected by astronomers and used to study the properties of the black hole and the surrounding environment.