= Tidal disruption event
{wiki=Tidal_disruption_event}
A tidal disruption event (TDE) occurs when a star passes too close to a supermassive black hole, resulting in the gravitational forces of the black hole tearing the star apart. This event typically happens when the star approaches within a certain critical distance known as the tidal radius. During a TDE, the intense gravitational field of the black hole can exceed the gravitational forces holding the star together, leading to the star being ripped apart.
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