Articles tagged with Supernovae
Astronomers measure velocity and composition of 'star guts' from nearby supernova Supernova 1987A using Hubble Space Telescope observations. The study reveals the deposition of energy and heavy elements into the host galaxy, including elements necessary for life on Earth.
Charles Steidel receives the 2010 Cosmology Prize for his revolutionary studies of distant galaxies, opening a direct observational window to the universe's early age. His work has allowed us to witness the dramatic transformation galaxies undergo throughout their lives.
The discovery of SN2005E reveals a supernova whose origin cannot be explained by any previously known mechanism. It is rich in helium and surprisingly different from typical white dwarf systems.
Scientists have found a supernova explosion that exhibits characteristics of a gamma-ray burst but lacks gamma rays. The discovery using the National Science Foundation's Very Large Array radio telescope promises to aid in locating more examples of these mysterious events.
Researchers have found remnants of high-temperature fireballs in two supernova remnants, revealing a new type of supernova remnant that was heated immediately after the explosion. The discovery was made possible by the sensitivity of the Suzaku satellite.
Washington University physicists are tracking down the source of cosmic rays using imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. The correlation between high cosmic-ray density and supernova rate in a starburst galaxy provides powerful evidence for supernova acceleration, long suspected to be the origin of these particles.
Researchers discover supernova that fits predictions for a star hundreds of times the sun's mass, revealing new insights into star formation and heavy metal creation. The study also suggests hyper-giant stars may exist beyond 150 suns, challenging our understanding of celestial physics.
Astronomers have identified the youngest neutron star ever discovered, located 11,000 light years from Earth. The star was born in a violent supernova explosion 330 years ago and features a unique carbon atmosphere just 10 centimeters thick.
The Swift satellite has acquired the highest-resolution view of the Andromeda Galaxy in ultraviolet light, capturing over 20,000 ultraviolet sources. The galaxy's star-formation processes can now be studied in greater detail than previously possible with the help of three ultraviolet filters.
Researchers found that chaotic processes and asymmetry of explosions create diversity in brightness, with potential impact on precision distance measurements. Simulations suggest use of multi-dimensional models to refine distance estimates and improve expansion rate measurements.
Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have created a laser technique that can help identify a rare isotope called 182Hf, which would prove that a supernova once exploded near our solar system. The technique uses negative ions and laser light to detach an extra electron from some elements while leaving others intact.
A team of astronomers has developed a new technique to discover supernovae at greater distances than previously known. This discovery allows for the examination of galaxies that form following supernova explosions, providing valuable information about their evolution.
Astronomers have discovered two giant supernovae 11 billion years ago, providing unprecedented insights into the early universe. The discovery was made using a new technique that allows for the detection of distant dying stars.
Astronomers are studying a mysterious gamma-ray emission from the center of the Milky Way galaxy, which is surprising given the presence of massive stars and black holes. The emission is thought to be caused by exotic particles such as dark matter or the decay of radioactive elements.
A team of scientists has created a movie tracking the expansion and changes of Cassiopeia A over time, revealing slower-than-expected energy loss. The visualization also shows high-velocity plumes from the explosion, challenging current theoretical models.
Researchers at Carnegie Institution resolve solar system formation with detailed model of supernova triggering collapse. The 'Little Bang' theory suggests a supernova shock wave triggered the Sun and planets.
Scientists using Spitzer data have identified the precise event that produces the echo we see, revealing the supernova's first flash. The hot spots near the shattered remains of an exploded star are echoing the blast's first moments, powered by radiation from the supernova shock wave.
A team of astronomers has discovered a potential 'wild cousin' of the infamous exploding star supernova 1987A in a nearby galaxy. The newly found supernova, SN1996cr, exhibits similar characteristics to '87A and is an impressive 1,000 times brighter.
A team of researchers, led by Stephanie Wachter and Vikram Dwarkadas, investigated the mysterious ring surrounding magnetar SGR 1900+14. They concluded that a powerful flare from the magnetar formed the ring, which measures seven light-years across.
Astronomers have caught a supernova explosion in the act, providing valuable insights into the process. The observation, made possible by NASA's Swift satellite, has helped scientists form a detailed picture of star explosions and shed light on long-standing puzzles.
Astronomers have tracked a recent supernova explosion in the Milky Way galaxy using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and NRAO's VLA. The discovery confirms the supernova is about 140 years old, making it the youngest recorded in the galaxy.
Dr. Stephen Reynolds and his team discovered the youngest known supernova remnant G1.9+0.3, estimated to be around 100-140 years old, using Chandra X-Ray Observatory images from 2007 and 1985. The discovery suggests that a supernova explosion occurred relatively recently, providing insights into the life cycle of galaxies.
A team of astronomers from Queen's University Belfast have discovered the nature of five supernova precursor stars using Hubble images. The study reveals that stars with masses as low as seven times the mass of the Sun can explode as supernovae, challenging current understanding of massive star collapse.
Researchers found two star systems with yellow supergiant eclipsing binary characteristics, which may be the progenitors of rare supernovae. The discovery was made using the Large Binocular Telescope and suggests that these systems could explain the unusual nature of certain supernovae.
Researchers at Carnegie Institution find unusual new form of carbon in meteorites, which could affect measurements of the universe's expansion and dark energy models. The discovery may have implications for understanding Type1a supernovae and the accelerating expansion of the universe.
A team of researchers proposes a new mechanism to explain the brightest ever recorded supernova, SN 2006gy. The model suggests that an extremely massive star undergoes repeated explosions, resulting in a display up to 100 times more luminous than usual.
In the circumstellar environment, newly formed elements make compounds and life takes off for the first time. The shells around dying stars enable a chemistry that produced grains older than our sun itself.
Astronomers have witnessed the death of a very massive star by observing two celestial explosions at exactly the same position in the sky. The most likely explanation for the 2004 explosion was a giant outburst of the star, which was later confirmed by the final death of the same star.
Astronomers observed a massive star suffering a double whammy, with the star surviving one outburst before exploding as Supernova 2006jc. The study found that the supernova's blast wave interacted with material ejected by the star two years earlier, indicating a unique stellar evolution process.
Astronomers have discovered a sun-like star in the earliest stage of development, dubbed E42, which is believed to be a virtual twin of Earth's sun. The object has a mass similar to the sun and appears in a violent environment similar to that believed to have produced our own star.
Astronomer Nathan Smith proposes a new theory for the origin of the 1987 supernova's triple-ring nebula, suggesting that unstable blue supergiant stars, called luminous blue variables, may be responsible. Three nearby stars with similar nebulae have been discovered, contradicting the prevailing merger and red-to-blue transition explana...
Recent gamma-ray bursts suggest a new kind of cosmic explosion involving newly formed black holes swallowing parent star matter. Astronomers observe no supernovae associated with these events, which could be due to massive stars dying without producing explosions.
Scientists have identified a new type of massive stellar death, where stars may collapse into black holes without exploding in supernova explosions. This discovery was made using data from two long-duration Gamma-ray bursts detected by NASA's Swift satellite.
Scientists have discovered a 'hybrid gamma-ray burst,' which exhibits properties of both long and short bursts. The burst's characteristics suggest that it may be signaling the birth of a new black hole, but its exact origin remains unclear.
Astronomers observe two long gamma-ray bursts that defy the consensus of supernova association, suggesting multiple ways to produce black holes and gamma-rays. The discoveries indicate a rich diversity in cosmic events and challenge the prevailing model of massive stellar death.
Astronomers have observed a rare phenomenon of two supernovas occurring simultaneously in the same galaxy, with implications for our understanding of galaxy mergers. The high frequency of supernovas in NGC 1316 suggests that massive star formation may be driving this activity.
Researchers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope found dark energy was present and accelerating the universe's expansion at least 9 billion years ago. This discovery provides a crucial clue to understanding dark energy's strength and permanence.
Astronomers discover sun was born in a massive star cluster, challenging current theories on planetary formation. The researchers used radioactive isotopes from meteorites to calculate the distance and time of a nearby supernova, suggesting that hundreds or thousands of solar siblings may exist.
For the first time a star has been observed as it goes supernova – a mind-bogglingly powerful explosion that briefly outshines an entire galaxy. UK scientists used NASA's Swift satellite and a combination of orbiting and ground-based observatories to catch the event in real-time.
Astronomers have linked an X-ray flash to a supernova for the first time, revealing a new class of events with properties distinct from typical gamma-ray bursts. The discovery suggests the existence of dimmer but possibly more numerous cosmic flashes.
Researchers found that at least two objects in the Quintuplet Cluster are binary pairs forming pinwheel stars that live fast and die young. These 'Wolf-Rayet colliding-wind binaries' emit enormous amounts of radiation, with each quintuplet outshining the Sun by 10,000 to 100,000 times.
Researchers have found evidence of a binary system in the Quintuplet cluster, where two massive stars are orbiting each other. The discovery of 'pinwheel-shaped' dust spirals around these stars provides further proof of their dual nature and corrects previous estimates of their sizes.
Researchers using ESA's XMM-Newton satellite data have found an object in the heart of a 2,000-year-old supernova remnant that exhibits complex and intriguing properties. The object, called 1E161348-5055, has a cycle that repeats every 6.7 hours, which is tens of thousands of times longer than expected for a young neutron star.
Saul Perlmutter, Adam Riess, and Brian Schmidt share the prize for their work on measuring changes in the universe's expansion rate. Their discovery has implications for understanding dark energy and its impact on galaxy distances.
Scientists have long suspected that massive star supernovae produce dust, but previous technology limitations hindered confirmation. A new study reveals that supernovae are indeed a major contributor to the early universe's dust, enabling rapid star formation and heavy element creation.
Researchers discovered that supernova remnants in the Small Magellanic Cloud contain up to one-hundredth the amount of dust predicted by current theories. This finding suggests alternative sites of dust formation, such as massive star winds, may be more important contributors to primordial galaxies. The study provides a unique test of ...
Astronomers used Aluminum-26 to estimate supernova frequency and star formation rate in the Milky Way galaxy. The discovery confirms the enrichment process continues to seed elements needed for life.
Researchers have detected gamma rays from radioactive aluminium (26Al) originating from the central regions of the Galaxy, indicating an ongoing process of new atomic nucleus production. The estimated total amount of radioactive 26Al is equivalent to three solar masses, corresponding to a galactic rate of supernovae every 50 years.
Researchers at McMaster University have discovered 'light echoes' of ancient supernovae, providing a unique opportunity to study the original light from these events. This finding sheds new light on our understanding of the universe and its elements.
Researchers discovered faint visible 'echoes' of three ancient supernovae by detecting centuries-old light reflected by interstellar gas clouds. The oldest echo is likely over 600 years old, offering a chance to study famous supernovae like those observed in 1006 and 400 years ago.
A team of researchers discovered that dark energy behaves similarly to Einstein's cosmological constant with a precision of 10%, contradicting several theoretical predictions. The study uses innovative camera technology and observations from multiple telescopes worldwide.
Recent Chandra X-ray Observatory observations have given insight into the behavior of the doomed star before it exploded, indicating that the predicted spectacular brightening of the circumstellar ring has begun. The supernova produced a shock wave that rumbled through the cavity, and recent data indicate that this event has started.
A Chinese-American team of scientists has discovered a rare isotope, sulfur-36, associated with sodalite in a meteorite. The finding provides strong evidence for the past presence of chlorine-36 in the early solar system, which was likely formed in a supernova explosion.
The Gemini Observatory has released three striking new images showcasing the 'Fireworks Galaxy', an interacting galaxy pair, and an extremely active stellar nursery. These images highlight the prolific galaxy NGC 6946, which is ablaze with galactic fireworks fueled by the births and deaths of multitudes of brilliant, massive stars.
Using the Spitzer Space Telescope, Hubble Space Telescope, and Chandra X-ray Observatory, researchers observed the Kepler's supernova remnant, uncovering a bubble-shaped shroud of gas and dust expanding at 4 million miles per hour. The observations revealed distinct features, including heated interstellar dust and regions of hot gas.
Astronomers have discovered two unique rings of dust illuminated by the afterglow of a gamma-ray burst in our galaxy. The rings, caused by dust scattering X-rays from the burst, reveal new insights into the distribution and behavior of dust in the Galaxy.
A new study analyzing Type 1A supernovae measured with the Hubble Space Telescope sheds light on the nature of dark energy. The results confirm that the universe is expanding at an increasing rate, reinforcing initial discoveries made five years ago.
Researchers from Cardiff University and the Royal Observatory Edinburgh found that some supernovae belch out huge quantities of cosmic dust. This discovery suggests that supernovae were responsible for producing the first solid particles in the Universe, shedding light on the origin of our planet.
The ESO team has provided conclusive evidence linking cosmological gamma-ray bursts to hypernova explosions, suggesting a direct connection between the two events. The study uses unprecedented spectral data from the VLT KUEYEN telescope to determine the distance of the burst as approximately 2,650 million light-years.
Recent RHESSI detection suggests gamma-ray bursts originate from highly structured magnetic fields, stronger than neutron star surfaces. This finding implies a dramatic shift in understanding the physics behind these explosive events.