The –est Astronomy

Black hole enjoys fantastically long stellar feast

X-ray glow gives away the slow chow down

supermassive black hole

SLOW EATER  A supermassive black hole has set a record for the longest meal, slurping on a single star for more than 10 years. In this artist’s illustration of the event, gas from the star (red) falls toward the black hole, while a wind blows the other way (blue).

M. Weiss/CXC/NASA

By Ashley Yeager

- More than 2 years ago

Black holes are speed eaters, usually scarfing down a star in less than a year.