Spinning Stars Produce Fainter Flares in Repeat Black Hole Encounters
Astronomers have observed stars that repeatedly pass close to supermassive black holes, shedding material in bursts of light that grow dimmer over time. New research suggests that a star's initial rapid spin plays a central role in this fading pattern. During each close encounter, the star loses mass, producing bright flares visible to astronomers. The star's spin rate helps regulate how much it rotates in subsequent passes, limiting the intensity of later flares. This finding offers new insight into the gravitational interactions between stars and supermassive black holes.
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