How bright was the "Superman" flare?

The "Superman" flare shone with the brightness of 10 trillion suns, making it the most luminous black hole flare ever detected.

What caused the "Superman" flare?

Researchers believe the "Superman" flare was caused by a supermassive black hole consuming a massive star, at least 30 times the size of our Sun, in a tidal disruption event.

Home / Science / Supermassive Black Hole Devours Massive Star in Record-Breaking Cosmic Flare

Supermassive Black Hole Devours Massive Star in Record-Breaking Cosmic Flare

Q: What is the "Superman" flare?

The "Superman" flare is the largest and most distant flare ever observed from a supermassive black hole, located 10 billion light-years away from Earth.

10 Nov, 2025

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Summary

Largest and most distant flare ever observed from a supermassive black hole
Flare originated 10 billion light-years away, shining with the brightness of 10 trillion suns
Likely caused by a supermassive black hole consuming a massive star

Supermassive Black Hole Devours Massive Star in Record-Breaking Cosmic Flare

In a groundbreaking discovery, astronomers have spotted the largest and most distant flare ever observed from a supermassive black hole. The flare, nicknamed "Superman," originated 10 billion light-years from Earth and at its peak, the emitted light shone with the brightness of 10 trillion suns.

The source of this record-breaking event is an active galactic nucleus (AGN) - a bright, compact region at the center of a galaxy powered by a supermassive black hole actively consuming material. As gas and dust spiral into the black hole, they become superheated, releasing intense radiation in the form of a powerful flare.