Astronomers have observed the unusual final moments of a massive star as it ended in a supernova. The event drew attention because the expected signs of a powerful outburst were absent.

Scientists had anticipated detecting a gamma-ray burst or jets of high-speed plasma erupting from the supernova. Instead, the observations showed neither phenomenon.

The missing signals make the stellar death an unexpected case for researchers studying how massive stars explode. The event, also featured in video coverage, highlights how supernovae can differ from the outcomes astronomers predict.