Usually, black holes finish eating the entirety of a star at once. The researchers believe the new finding offers another way of studying the physics of black hole behavior.
From recent data gathered by Chandra X-ray Observatory and Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, the researchers estimated that the shredded star makes its nearest approach to the black hole every 3.5 years.
If any part of the star remains, the black hole’s third meal will begin between May and August next year.
The feast would last for almost two years. The second meal was smaller than the first, so it’s safe to say that the third will be more of a snack than anything.
The paper was published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
