NASA’s NEOWISE infrared telescope has provided striking evidence that a massive star in the Andromeda galaxy collapsed directly into a black hole without exploding as a supernova. The star, M31-2014-DS1, faded dramatically in visible light while leaving a faint infrared glow from surrounding dust. Astronomers say this rare “failed supernova” offers one of the clearest examples yet of a quiet stellar collapse in another galaxy.
