Powerful Space Explosion May Herald Star's Death By Black Hole

A huge, powerful star explosion detonated in deep space last week — an ultra-bright conflagaration that has astronomers scratching their heads over exactly how it happened.

The explosion may be the death cry of a star as it was ripped apart by a black hole, scientists said. High-energy radiation continues to brighten and fade from the March 28 blast's location, about 3.8 billion light-years from Earth in the constellation Draco. [Image of the space explosion]

Astronomers say they've never witnessed an explosion so bright, long-lasting and variable before, according to NASA officials.

http://www.space.com/11328-strange-space-explosion-black-hole.html

Could Eta Carinae have the same fate, colpasing onto a black hole, being 7500 light years from Earth, would such a stellar black hole pose any danger to Earth? Eta Carinae has 100 solar masses, so it is capable of colepsing onto a black hole; any thoughts on this

you might want to read this
http://www.space.com/4814-risk-earth-supernova-explosions.html

It makes mention of the star eventually going nova again in 10-20,000 years.

It also mentions that the Earth is in no danger from this star since

A) its to far away
and B) the star is at a 45 degree angle to earth which means the gamma rays are not coming near earth
and C) no mention of a Black hole being created
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When such star goes hypernova, its gas could herald new solar systems.

Don't hold your breath then.

hypernova?

Is that a new scifi channel movie
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Hypernova (pl. hypernovae) refers to an exceptionally large star that collapses at the end of its lifespan. Until the 1990s, it referred specifically to an explosion with an energy of over 100 supernovae (over 1048 joules); such explosions are believed to be the origin of long-duration gamma ray bursts.[1]

After the 1990s, the term came to be used to describe the supernovae of the most massive stars, the hypergiants, which have masses from 100 to over 300 times that of the Sun. Decaying 56Ni, a short-lived isotope of nickel, is believed to provide much of a hypernova's light.


Eta Carinae, believed to be over 100 solar masses, does fit the description for a hypernova candidate, Eta Carinae is catagorized as a hypergiant star type.

The Pistol star perhaps the most luminous star in the Milky Way near Sagitarius; i believe is another very messive star which could go supernovea. Now the biggest kown star in the universe is VY Canis Majoris at possibly 2100 times the size of the sun, would defie the defenition of supernovea.