TDE Graphic (IMAGE) University of California - Santa Cruz Caption This illustration of emissions from a tidal disruption event shows in cross section what happens when the material from a disrupted star is devoured by a black hole. The material forms an accretion disk, which heats up and emits vast amounts of light and radiation. As shown by the double arrow, the emissions we are able to see from Earth depend on our viewing angle with respect to the orientation of the black hole. Credit Jane Lixin Dai Usage Restrictions For use only with news coverage of this research License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.