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The Mysterious Disappearance of a Star: Insights into a Failed Supernova Explosion

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Illustration of a failed supernova creating a black hole

Illustration of a Failed Supernova Explosion Forming a Black Hole

NASA, ESA, and P. Jeffries (STScI)

A massive star in the Andromeda galaxy has seemingly vanished instead of exploding, resulting in the formation of a black hole in a peculiar manner.

Typically, black holes originate from stars that explode as supernovas. However, they can also emerge from stars that collapse due to their own gravity, directly creating black holes without the explosive phase.

In 2024, Kisharai De from Columbia University, along with his team, investigated the case of M31-2014-DS1, an exceptionally bright star located in the Andromeda galaxy, approximately 20 times the mass of our Sun. The star exhibited an initial brightening in 2014, followed by a significant dimming from 2017 to 2020. This behavior aligned with predictions for a supernova that would fail to result in a black hole, yet no direct evidence of the black hole was observed, such as X-ray emissions.

Currently, De and his colleagues are utilizing the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and Chandra X-ray Observatory to study M31-2014-DS1. They have detected a faint red object at the star’s previous location, which is only about 8% brighter than the original star and enveloped in rapidly expanding dust. This finding aligns with the expected characteristics of a supernova that fails to produce a black hole. However, De and his team have refrained from commenting further, as their research has not yet undergone peer review.

Another group studying the same JWST data, including Emma Beasor from Liverpool John Moores University, UK, suggested that the case for M31-2014-DS1 failing to explode may also indicate a stellar merger, which could result in small explosions followed by dimming and dust formation.

“Predictions for the appearance of a failed supernova significantly overlap with what we might expect from a collision of two stars creating vast amounts of dust,” Beasor explained.

However, both scenarios are rare, she noted, as it is uncommon to observe such drastic color changes in a star.

“No matter the explanation, it’s fascinating that the visible star has essentially vanished,” stated Gerald Gilmore from Cambridge University. “For years, the search for extinct massive stars has produced ambiguous outcomes, but now, advancements in multi-wavelength time-domain astronomy are paving the way for clarity.”

The definitive method for confirming black hole formation is through the identification of X-ray emissions, Gilmore noted, which are currently absent at the M31-2014-DS1 location. Nevertheless, if advanced telescopes like JWST can analyze the remnants of dimmed stars, we could soon uncover what occurred. “We are on the verge of discovering at least one of the ultimate fates of a massive star, which is intriguingly akin to the Cheshire Cat’s disappearance,” he remarked.

References: arXiv, DOI: 10.48550/arXiv.2601.05774 and DOI: 10.48550/arXiv.2601.05317

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Historic Discovery: Oldest Supernova in History Illuminates Earliest Star

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James Webb Space Telescope image of SN Eos supernova

Image of SN Eos supernova taken by the James Webb Space Telescope

Astronomers have identified a colossal star’s explosion shortly after the universe emerged from the Cosmic Dark Ages, offering insights into the birth and demise of the first stars.

When a star exhausts its fuel, it explodes in a spectacular event known as a supernova. While nearby supernovae are exceedingly bright, the light from ancient explosions takes billions of years to reach Earth, fading into invisibility by the time it arrives.

This is why astronomers typically detect distant supernovae only during exceptional circumstances, such as Type Ic supernovae, which are the remnants of stars stripped of their outer gas and producing intense gamma-ray bursts. However, the more common Type II supernova, the predominant explosion observed in our galaxy, occurs when a massive star depletes its fuel but remains too faint for casual observation.

Notably, David Coulter, a professor at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, and his team utilized the James Webb Space Telescope to discover a Type II supernova named SN Eos, dating back to when the universe was only 1 billion years old.

Fortunately, the supernova’s explosion took place behind a vast galaxy cluster, whose potent gravity amplified the light, rendering SN Eos dozens of times brighter than it would typically appear, facilitating detailed studies.


Researchers meticulously analyzed the light spectrum from SN Eos, confirming it as the oldest supernova detected via spectroscopy. Their findings denote it as a Type II supernova, attesting to its origins from a massive star.

Additionally, evidence suggests that the progenitor star contained remarkably low quantities of elements beyond hydrogen and helium—less than 10% of the elemental abundance present in the Sun. This aligns with theories about the early universe, where multiple stellar generations hadn’t existed long enough to create heavier elements.

“This allows us to quickly identify the type of stellar population in that region. [This star] exploded,” stated Or Graul from the University of Portsmouth, UK. “Massive stars tend to explode shortly after their formation. In cosmological terms, a million years is a brief interval, making them indicators of ongoing star formation within their respective galaxies.”

Light from such vast distances is typically emitted by small galaxies, allowing astronomers to infer the average characteristics of the stars within these galaxies. However, studying individual stars at these distances tends to be unfeasible. As noted by Matt Nicholl of Queen’s University, Belfast, UK, “This discovery provides us with exquisite data on an individual star. [Distance] has kept us from observing an isolated supernova here, but the data confirms this star’s uniqueness compared to others in the local universe.”

This observation occurred just a few hundred million years following the Era of Reionization, a pivotal period in the universe’s history. During this time, light from the inaugural stars began ionizing neutral hydrogen gas, transitioning it into translucent ionized hydrogen. This relates to SN Eos, as it serves as a supernova from a time we would expect to see.

“This discovery closely coincides with the reionization era when the universe emerged from darkness, permitting photons to travel freely once more and allowing us to observe,” said Graul.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Webb Discovers the Most Ancient Supernova Explosion Ever Recorded

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Astronomers utilizing the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope have identified a supernova explosion linked to gamma-ray burst event GRB 250314A at a redshift of 7.3, occurring when the universe was merely 730 million years old. The previous record-holder for supernovae was observed when the universe reached 1.8 billion years. This discovery is detailed in two papers published in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.

Webb identified the origin of the blinding flashes known as gamma-ray bursts. This particular gamma-ray burst exploded when the universe was merely 730 million years old. Image credit: NASA / ESA / CSA / STScI / A. Levan, IMAPP / A. Pagan, STScI.

“Only Mr. Webb has directly demonstrated that this light is from a collapsing massive star,” stated Dr. Andrew Levan, an astronomer at Radboud University and the University of Warwick, and lead author of one of the papers.

“This observation suggests that we can utilize Webb to detect individual stars from a time when the universe was just 5% of its current age.”

Whereas gamma-ray bursts typically last from seconds to minutes, supernovae rapidly brighten over several weeks before slowly dimming.

In contrast, the supernova linked to GRB 250314A took months to brighten.

Because this explosion occurred so early in the universe’s history, its light continued to evolve as the universe expanded over billions of years.

As the light stretches, the duration for events to unfold also lengthens.

Webb’s observations were intentionally made three and a half months after the closure of the GRB 250314A event, as it was expected that the supernova would be at its brightest at this time.

“Webb provided the rapid and sensitive follow-up we so desperately needed,” remarked Dr. Benjamin Schneider, an astronomer at the Marseille Institute of Astrophysics.

Gamma-ray bursts are exceedingly rare. Bursts lasting only a few seconds may originate from the collision of two neutron stars or a neutron star and a black hole.

Longer bursts, like this one, which lasted around 10 seconds, are often linked to the explosions of massive stars.

On March 14, 2025, the SVOM mission—a joint Franco-Chinese telescope launched in 2024 designed to spot fleeting events—will detect gamma-ray bursts from extremely distant sources.

Within an hour and a half, NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory had pinpointed the X-ray source in the sky, facilitating follow-up observations to measure the distance of the web.

Eleven hours later, Nordic optical telescopes revealed the afterglow of the infrared gamma-ray burst, indicating that gamma rays may correspond to very distant objects.

Four hours later, ESO’s Very Large Telescope estimated that the object existed 730 million years after the Big Bang.

“Only a handful of gamma-ray bursts have been identified in the first billion years of the universe and merely a few in the last 50 years,” Levan noted.

“This remarkable event is exceedingly rare and thrilling.”

As this is the oldest and most distant supernova ever identified, researchers compared it to nearby modern supernovae, finding surprising similarities.

Why? Little is still understood about the early billion years of the universe.

Early stars likely lacked heavy elements, were massive, and had brief lifespans.

They also existed during the reionization era, when intergalactic gas was almost opaque to high-energy light.

“Dr. Webb has demonstrated that this supernova resembles modern supernovae very closely,” stated Professor Nial Tanvir from the University of Leicester.

“Webb’s findings indicate that this distant galaxy is akin to other galaxies of the same epoch,” commented Dr. Emeric Le Floch, an astronomer at CEA Paris-Saclay.

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AJ Levan et al. 2025. JWST reveals a supernova following a gamma-ray burst at z ≃ 7.3. A&A 704, L8; doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/202556581

B. Cordier et al. 2025. SVOM GRB 250314A at z ≃ 7.3: Exploding star in the reionization era. A&A 704, L7; doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/202556580

Source: www.sci.news

Unusual Elements in Supernova Explosions May Influence Extraterrestrial Life

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Supernova remnant Cassiopeia A

NASA/JPL-California Institute of Technology/O. Krauss (Steward Observatory)

Within Cassiopeia A, the youngest known supernova in our galaxy, scientists have uncovered unexpectedly high concentrations of chlorine and potassium. These elements, which possess an odd number of protons, are believed to be relatively rare in the universe but are crucial for the emergence of planets and life. Consequently, the findings regarding Cassiopeia A may influence our understanding of the potential locations for extraterrestrial life within the Milky Way.

Supernova remnants, or exploded stars, typically contain elevated levels of elements like oxygen and magnesium, with their cores being comprised of even-numbered protons. Elements with odd-numbered protons (often referred to as “odd Z” elements) are inherently less stable, leading to a reduced likelihood of being created via stellar nuclear fusion. This observation aligns with models of galactic chemical evolution that generally estimate meager quantities of odd Z elements.

“[As it stands] The source of these odd Z elements has been elusive.” Matsunagaumi from Kyoto University in Japan.

Matsunaga and his team recognized that high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy might shed light on the enigma. At the high temperatures prevalent in a supernova remnant, atoms lose electrons and emit unique X-ray signatures that sensitive instruments can detect. The X-ray Imaging Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM), launched in September 2023, is equipped to capture such data and conducted two observations of Cassiopeia A in December 2023.

To determine the abundance of each element, the researchers compared the faint signals from the odd Z elements against the stronger signals from even Z elements, like sulfur and argon, using them as stable reference points for more accurate measurements of the odd Z elements.

The findings revealed that the Cassiopeia A supernova generated significantly more chlorine and potassium than traditional models had anticipated. This indicates that theorists might need to reassess how large stars synthesize these uncommon elements, as certain widely accepted models fail to accommodate the specific conditions of Cassiopeia A.

“While the authors note that their observations diverge from previous models, the reality is more intricate,” says Stan Woosley of the University of California, Santa Cruz, who did not participate in the study. “Not all of our models are incorrect; some perform better than others, and certain ones correlate quite well. Importantly, these observations present astronomers with new, definitive data to refine their models and enhance our comprehension of massive stellar explosions.”

The recent measurements also empower Matsunaga and his colleagues to start evaluating various longstanding theories regarding the formation of odd Z elements in massive stars, including stellar rotation, interactions between binary star pairs, and the merging of diverse combustion layers deep inside stars. Up until now, there was no method to validate these theories against actual data.

“We still lack a complete understanding of which star types contributed to this,” states Katarina Rodders from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, who was not involved in the study. “Specifically, we lack clarity regarding the source of chlorine, an element abundant in our oceans.”

If these discoveries hold true for other supernova remnants, they could reshape our perceptions of how life-essential elements are distributed throughout the Milky Way. Depending on the star that seeded a planet, some areas may have a more favorable supply of life’s foundational materials than others. This raises the possibility of uneven distribution of extraterrestrial life across the galaxy.

“That is certainly a possibility,” Matsunaga remarked. “However, we cannot definitively assert this based on the current data.” It remains uncertain whether Cassiopeia A is singular in its production of such substantial quantities of odd Z elements or if it is indicative of supernova remnants in general. “Future observations of additional supernova remnants with XRISM and other upcoming instruments will be pivotal in addressing this issue.”

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VLT Captures Final Images of the Discarded Supernova

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Astronomers utilizing ESO’s Extremely Large Telescope (VLT) have captured images of SNR 0509-67.5.

This image, obtained with the multi-unit spectroscopic explorer (Muse) located on ESO’s Extremely Large Telescope (VLT), displays the supernova remnant SNR 0509-67.5. The Calcium shown in blue is arranged in two concentric shells, indicating a double explosion of the star. Image credits: ESO/DAS et al. / Noll et al.

“White dwarfs—small, inert cores resulting from the demise of sun-like stars—are capable of producing what astronomers classify as type Ia supernovae,” states a PhD student from the University of New South Wales University of Canberra.

“Our understanding of the universe’s expansion hinges on these supernovae, which also serve as the primary source of iron on Earth, including in blood.”

“Yet, despite their significance, the mechanisms driving their explosions are still not fully understood.”

All theories surrounding Type Ia supernovae begin with pairs of white dwarf stars.

When one of the stars’ orbits is sufficiently close to its counterpart, it can siphon material from its companion.

According to the most prevalent theory regarding Type Ia supernovae, the white dwarf accumulates matter until it hits a critical mass and then experiences a singular explosion.

However, new research indicates that at least some Type Ia supernovae could be better explained by a series of double explosions occurring before the stars reach this critical mass.

The recent VLT images of SNR 0509-67.5 confirm these predictions.

In this alternative model, the white dwarf forms a helium layer through theft, which becomes unstable and can ignite.

This initial explosion generates a shockwave that moves inward, resulting in another explosion at the core of the star, ultimately leading to the supernova.

Until now, there had been no clear visual proof supporting the occurrence of a double explosion in white dwarfs.

Recent studies have suggested that this process creates identifiable patterns or “fingerprints” on the still-glowing debris from the supernova, surfacing long after the primary explosion.

Research proposes that the remains of such supernovae contain two distinct calcium signatures.

Das and his colleagues have found these fingerprints on the supernova remnants.

“The findings clearly indicate that white dwarfs can explode well before reaching the famous Chandrasekhar limit, demonstrating that the ‘double explosion’ mechanism naturally occurs,” remarks Dr. Ibo Seitenzar, an astronomer at the Heidelberg Institute.

Astronomers were able to identify these calcium layers in SNR 0509-67.5 by employing VLT’s multi-unit spectroscopic explorer (Muse).

This provides compelling evidence that Type Ia supernovae can occur prior to their progenitor white dwarfs reaching critical mass.

“This tangible evidence of double explosions not only aids in resolving historical mysteries but also offers a visual interpretation,” explains Das.

“It’s incredibly satisfying to reveal the intricate workings behind such colossal cosmic explosions.”

The team’s results are published today in the journal Nature Astronomy.

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P. Das et al. Calcium in the remnants of the supernova as fingerprints of the sub-Chandrasekhar explosion. Nature Astronomy Published online on July 2, 2025. doi:10.1038/s41550-025-02589-5

Source: www.sci.news

A Breathtaking Supernova Image Unveils a Star That Explodes Twice After Its Death

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Two concentric rings surrounding the supernova remnant SNR 0509-67.5 indicate it underwent two explosions.

ESO/p. Das et al. Background stars (Hubble): K. Noll et al.

A white dwarf star located approximately 160,000 light years away has been observed to have exploded not once, but twice. Astronomers have discovered the first proof of a supernova being linked to dual explosions.

The White Dwarf Star represents a dead stellar body, much like our Sun, which has exhausted its nuclear fuel, leaving an Earth-sized core. When a white dwarf siphons material from a companion star, it can accumulate enough mass to trigger an explosion as a Type IA supernova.

The process by which a white dwarf becomes a supernova remains largely unclear. Some astronomers have theorized that two separate explosions might occur, but until now, there has been no concrete evidence supporting this.

Priyam Das, from the University of New South Wales in Canberra, along with colleagues, examined spectra acquired by a large telescope at the European Southern Observatory in Chile. Their studies of the supernova remnant in the Large Magellanic Cloud reveal two distinct concentric shells resulting from the explosions.

Das theorizes that the white dwarf must have amassed helium on its surface, potentially from a nearby helium-rich white dwarf or a giant helium-rich star, leading to its eventual explosion.

“We witness the initial helium explosion occurring very quickly, within a mere few dozen seconds; it all happens in an instant,” states Das.

The material ejected during the first explosion was recorded to be traveling at 25,000 kilometers per second. Hence, despite the second explosion taking place only seconds later, the two events are still separated by a significant distance.

The light from this cosmic explosion is believed to have reached Earth somewhere between 310 and 350 years ago. It would have shone brightly in the southern hemisphere’s night sky, but human records indicate there was no sighting, likely due to it being obscured by the Sun.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

A nearby supernova explosion could have triggered multiple mass extinctions on Earth

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New research from Keele University and Universidad de Alicante shows that near Earth explosion Giant O and B type stars It occurs at a rate of 2.5 per billion years. This result supports the view that such an event may have caused one or more of the mass extinction events recorded on Earth.

Among the puppies in the constellation, I have the impression of the artist Zeta Puppis, an O-shaped star about 1,400 light years away. Image credit: Tahina Ramiaramanantsoa.

Astronomers at Kiel and Alicante University believe that the explosion of supernova near Earth could condemn both the late Devonian and Ordovician extinction events that occurred 372 and 445 million years ago, respectively.

Ordovician extinction killed 60% of marine invertebrates when life was largely confined to the ocean, and the late Devonian wiped out about 70% of all species, leading to a major change in the species of fish present in ancient seas and lakes.

Previous studies have not been able to identify a clear cause of either event, but are thought to be related to Earth's ozone layer depletion, which may have been caused by supernova.

A new study found that the velocity supernova that occurs near our planet coincides with the timing of both mass extinctions.

“Supernova explosions bring heavy chemical elements to interstellar media, which are used to form new stars and planets,” said Dr. Alexis Quintana, PhD from Kiel University, the lead author of the study.

“However, if planets, including Earth, are too close to events of this type, this can have devastating effects.”

“Supernova explosions are some of the most energetic explosions in the universe,” said Dr. Nick Wright, PhD from Keel University.

“If a large star explodes as a supernova close to Earth, the results will be devastating for life on Earth. This study suggests that this may already be happening.”

An artist impression of HR 6819, a close binary consisting of deleted B-shaped stars (background) and rapidly rotating BE stars (foreground). Image credit: ESO/L. Calsada.

Astronomers came to their conclusion after conducting a large-scale census of OB stars in the sun of Kiloparscheck (approximately 3,260 light years).

They studied the distribution of these stars to learn more about how clusters of stars and galaxies form using themselves as benchmarks, and the rate at which these stars form in our galaxies.

The census allowed researchers to calculate the rate at which supernovas occur within galaxies, which are important for supernova observations, and the rates that are important for the production of large-scale star rests, such as black holes and neutron stars throughout the universe.

Data will also help in the future development of gravitational wave detectors, a useful tool for scientists studying the structure and origin of the universe.

As part of this, the researchers calculated the supernova rate within the 20 parsecs (65 light years) of the Sun and compared this to the approximate velocity rate of mass extinction events on Earth that were previously attributed to nearby supernovas.

This exclusion events linked to other factors such as asteroid impacts and ice ages.

Comparing these datasets, experts found that their studies support the theory that supernova explosions are responsible for both the late Devonian and Ordovician extinction events.

“We calculated the supernova rate close to Earth, and we found that it coincides with the speed of mass extinction events on our planet, which are related to external forces such as supernova,” Dr. Wright said.

Astronomers believe it occurs in galaxies like the Milky Way at about one or two supernovas, or even lower speeds, but the good news is that there are only two nearby stars that can reach the supernova within the next million years or so.

“But both of these are over 500 light years from the US, and computer simulations have previously suggested that supernovaes at distance from Earth are likely to not affect our planet,” the author said.

Their study It will be published in Monthly Notices from the Royal Astronomical Society.

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Alexis L. Quintana et al. 2025. Census of AB stars within 1 kpc and collapse rate of star formation and core collapse Supernova rate. mnrasin press; arxiv: 2503.08286v1

Source: www.sci.news

XMM-Newton discovers two supernova remnants near the Milky Way satellite galaxy’s edge

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Named SNR J0614-7251 and SNR J0624-6948, the newly discovered supernova remains are located on the outskirts of the large Magelanic Cloud, the largest milky white satellite galaxy.

In the center of the image, stars cluster into a large Magellan cloud, a bright, dark green candy floss colored haze. Scattered in the center of the image are about 50 small yellow crosses, some of which are almost overlapping as they are very close to each other. SNR J0624-6948 (orange, high image) and SNR J0614-7251 (blue, bottom image) are seen in the lower left quarter of the image. Image credits: Eckhard Slawik/ESA/Xmm-Newton/Sasaki et al. / F. Zangrandi.

“Supranovae are stellar explosions, caused by massive star core collapse, neutron stars or black holes (core collapsing supernovae), or by thermonuclear destruction of white nuclei in binary systems. Friedrich- “We are a scientist at the same time,” said Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and colleague Dr. Manami Sasaki.

“Supranovae are important for galaxy material cycles and the formation of next-generation stars. Shockwave produces supernova debris that heats environmental or interstellar media to ionize, sweeping and compressing the environment, and making the environment more environmentally friendly and compressing. Enrich it. With chemical elements.”

use ESA's XMM-Newton Spaceshipastronomers discovered two supernova remnants, SNR J0614-7251 and SNR J0624-6948, in the large Magellan cloud.

“The big and small Magellan clouds are the largest satellite galaxies in the Milky Way and the closest ones,” they said.

“The Magellan Cloud is also the only satellite galaxy in the Milky Way with current active star formation.”

“A large Magellan cloud at a small distance (49,600 Parsec), its morphology is almost a hassle disk, and its low foreground absorption provides a detailed laboratory ideal for the study of large samples of the remaining supernovae. Masu.”

“Proximity allows for spatially resolved spectroscopic studies of supernova debris, and precisely known distances allow for the analysis of the energetics of each supernova debris.”

“In addition, the rich data of wide-field multi-wavelength data available provides information about the environment in which these supernova debris evolves.”

XMM-Newton observed SNR J0614-7251 and SNR J0624-6948 with three different types of X-ray light.

They show the most common chemical elements in various parts of the debris.

The center of SNR J0614-7251 is primarily made up of iron, according to the team.

This clue allowed researchers to classify this remnant for the first time as a result of a type IA supernova.

“The discovery of supernova remnants on the outskirts of the large Magellan cloud confirms that stellar explosions occur outside the galaxy and allows us to study their shocks, stellar ejectors and environment,” they said. I said that.

“It will help us to better understand the evolution of the Magellan cloud and the history of interacting galaxies and their surrounding star formation.”

“We hope that new multi-wavelength investigations will reveal more supernova remnants around the Magellan cloud.”

“This new supernova remnants allows us to study the supernova explosions and the rest of the supernova evolution in low density and low metallic environments, and better serve to better the effects of metallicity on star formation and star evolution. I can understand it.”

result It will be displayed in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.

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Manamisasaki et al. 2025. The remains of a supernova on the outskirts of the large Magellan cloud. A&A 693, L15; doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/202452178

Source: www.sci.news

The Hubble Telescope Reveals a Galaxy Hosting a Supernova

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The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has captured an impressive photo of a well-known galaxy called Wisea J070815.11+210422.3.

SN 2022AJN looks like a blue point in the center of this Hubble image, brightening the Wisea J070815.11+210422.3 blurred body. Image credit: NASA / ESA / Hubble / RJ Foley, UC Santa Cruz.

Wisea J070815.11+210422.3 is situated approximately 600 million light years away in the Gemini constellation.

This image was captured about two months following the supernova event in the galaxy, known as SN 2022AJN.

“Up until the announcement made in November 2022, SN 2022AJN had not been the focus of published research,” stated Hubble astronomers.

“Hubble observed this supernova for a reason. SN 2022AJN is classified as a Type IA supernova, resulting from the explosive death of a star’s core.”

Type IA Supernovae are valuable to astronomers for determining distances to distant galaxies.

“This is feasible because Type IA supernovae exhibit consistent brightness, emitting the same amount of light regardless of their distance from Earth,” they explained.

“Thus, by comparing observed brightness to expected brightness, the distance to the supernova and its host galaxy can be calculated.”

“Despite its apparent simplicity, this measurement method is complicated by intergalactic dust.”

“A supernova appearing red when it should be blue can be due to dust between galaxies affecting its appearance.”

“To address this complication, Hubble is being employed to study a total of 100 Type IA supernovae across seven wavelength bands, ranging from ultraviolet to near-infrared.”

The color image of Wisea J070815.11+210422.3 was produced from various exposures collected in the infrared part of the spectrum using Hubble Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3).

Four filters were utilized to sample different infrared wavelengths, with each filter assigned a different hue to represent a single color image.

“This image blends data from four infrared wavelengths,” explained scientists.

“Infrared light passes through dust more effectively than visible or ultraviolet light.”

“By comparing supernova brightness across different wavelengths, researchers can mitigate the impact of dust and distance, enhancing measurements of distant galaxies and the universe’s expansion.”

Source: www.sci.news

Hubble’s Observation of a Spiral Galaxy Hosting a Supernova

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NASA has released a beautiful photo of spiral galaxy LEDA 22057 taken by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope.

This Hubble image shows spiral galaxy LEDA 22057 about 650 million light-years away in the constellation Gemini. Image credits: NASA/ESA/Hubble/RJ Foley, University of California, Santa Cruz.

Leda 22057 It is located in the constellation Gemini, about 650 million light years away from Earth.

Also known as AGC 170923, MaNGA 11743-12703, or 2MASX J07524264+1450263, this galaxy is the site of a supernova explosion.

“This special supernova… SN2024piwas discovered by automated research in January 2024,” Hubble team members said in a statement.

“This survey covered the entire northern half of the night sky every two days and cataloged more than 10,000 supernovae.”

New images of LEDA 22057 consist of observations from. Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3 (WCF3) Located in the infrared part of the spectrum.

“SN 2024pi is visible in this image,” the astronomers said.

“SN 2024pi’s pale blue dot, located just below and to the right of the galactic nucleus, stands out against the galaxy’s ghostly spiral arms.”

“This image was taken about a month and a half after the supernova was discovered, so the supernova appears many times fainter here than at its peak brightness.”

According to the researchers, SN 2024pi supernova belongs to type Ia.

“This type of supernova requires a remarkable object called a white dwarf, which is the crystallized core of a star with a mass less than about eight times the mass of the Sun,” the researchers said.

“When a star of this size runs out of hydrogen in its core, it expands into a red giant, becoming colder, swollen, and brighter.”

“Over time, pulsations and stellar winds strip away the star’s outer layers, leaving behind a white dwarf and a colorful planetary nebula.”

“White dwarfs can have surface temperatures of over 100,000 degrees Celsius and are extremely dense, packing almost the mass of the Sun into a sphere the size of Earth.”

“Nearly all stars in the Milky Way will someday evolve into white dwarfs, a fate that awaits our Sun in about 5 billion years, but not all of them will explode as Type Ia supernovae.”

“For that to happen, the white dwarf must be part of a binary star system.”

“If a white dwarf siphons material from its stellar partner, it could become too massive to support itself.”

“The resulting runaway fusion explosion destroys the white dwarf in a supernova explosion visible many galaxies away.”

Source: www.sci.news

In Search of the Universe’s First Supernova

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The universe has changed significantly in the 14 billion years since its creation. It was a dusty start, and all chemical elements were missing at that time. Stars form as the universe evolves, and astronomers classify them into three groups: population. The youngest, most metal-rich stars like the Sun are classified as Population I, while old, metal-poor stars are classified as Population II.

Astronomers also classify the oldest metal-free stars as Population III or pop. III. To date, no astronomer has discovered a Pop. III star due to their theoretical age being older than the Milky Way and other surrounding galaxies, requiring telescopes to explore extreme distances.

An international team of scientists proposed a new approach to searching for Pop. III stars by expanding the search to include supernova explosions, improving the odds of discovering these ancient stars.

The research team focused on a type of supernova explosion called a white dwarf reignited by injection of a substance, resulting in flare-ups like Type Ia supernova.

To test their hypothesis, astronomers used a stellar astrophysics experimental code module called mesa to conduct simulations. Through these simulations, they found that Pop. III stars could indeed produce type Ia supernovae, debunking previous doubts. They then estimated the frequency of these supernovae in observable regions of space.

Based on their calculations, scientists could expect to find up to two Pop. III Type Ia supernovae in a three-year mission covering 0.002% of the sky. They emphasized the need for telescopes like JWST, which can observe extreme distances of 24 billion light-years.

While their discovery relies on assumptions about unseen physics, the researchers believe that most distant supernovae come from ancient stars, potentially allowing us to witness events from billions of years ago.


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Source: sciworthy.com

Twisted Spiral Arms Galaxy Hosting Supernova Discovered by Hubble Space Telescope

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Astronomers used the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope to capture this image of the barred spiral galaxy LEDA 857074.

This Hubble image shows the barred spiral galaxy LEDA 857074. The color image was created from observations in the near-infrared part of the spectrum with Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3). Four filters were used to sample different wavelengths. Color is produced by assigning a different hue to each monochromatic image associated with an individual filter. Image courtesy of NASA / ESA / Hubble / RJ Foley.

LEDA857074 It is a barred spiral galaxy located in the constellation Eridanus.

“Hubble has observed a wide range of celestial objects, from galaxies, nebulae and star clusters to planets in our solar system and beyond,” Hubble astronomers said in a statement.

“Observing programs typically aim to collect data that will enable astronomers to answer specific questions.”

“Naturally, this means that most of the planned observations will be directed at objects that astronomers have already studied.”

“Some are well-known, such as the Crab Nebula and the globular cluster Omega Centauri, while others, such as the Spider Galaxy and NGC 4753, are less well known to the public but have been featured in hundreds of scientific papers.”

“This galaxy is not like that: LEDA 857074 has been named in fewer than five papers, one of which is the Lyon-Meudon extragalactic database itself.”

“Apart from its location, virtually no data has been recorded about this object. It has never been studied since it was discovered. So why did it attract the attention of the legendary Hubble telescope?”

In 2022, an automated survey observed a supernova event in LEDA 857074 called SN 2022ADQZ.

“Although astronomers have catalogued millions of galaxies and tens of thousands of supernovae are detected annually today, the probability of discovery in any particular galaxy is low,” the researchers said.

“We don’t know how actively LEDA 857074 is forming stars, and therefore how frequently it will undergo supernova explosions.”

“The spotlight from this supernova made this galaxy an unexpected and lucky target for Hubble!”

“This object joins the ranks of many other well-known celestial objects thanks to its unique imaging by the Hubble Space Telescope.”

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Gigapixel Images of Bella Supernova Remnant Captured by Dark Energy Camera

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Astronomers harness powerful energy dark energy camera The Victor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope (DECam) at Cerro Tororo Inter-American Observatory, a program of NSF's NOIRLab, Huge 1.3 gigapixel image The Vela supernova remnant is the remains of a giant star that exploded in the constellation Vela about 11,000 years ago.

This DECam image shows the Vela supernova remnant, the remnant of a supernova explosion 800 light-years away in the southern constellation of Vela. Image credits: CTIO / NOIRLab / DOE / NSF / AURA / TA University of Alaska Anchorage Chancellor and NSF's NOIRLab / M. Zamani and D. de Martin, NSF's NOIRLab.

of Bella supernova remnantVela SNR for short, is one of the most well-studied supernova remnants in the sky and one of the closest supernova remnants to Earth.

Its progenitor star exploded 11,000 to 12,300 years ago south of the constellation Vore.

The association of this supernova remnant with the bella pulsar, made by Australian astronomers in 1968, provided direct observational evidence that supernovae form neutron stars.

“When this star exploded 11,000 years ago, its outer layer was violently stripped away and splattered around, creating a shock wave that can still be seen today,” the astronomers said in a statement.

“As the shock wave spreads into the surrounding region, hot, energetic gas flies away from the point of explosion, becomes compressed and interacts with the interstellar medium, producing the blue and yellow thread-like filaments seen in the image. .”

“Vela SNR is a gigantic structure, almost 100 light-years long and 20 times the diameter of a full moon in the night sky.”

“Although the star's final moments were dramatic, he did not completely disappear.”

“After the outer layers were shed, the star's core collapsed into a neutron star, an ultra-dense ball of protons and electrons that collided with each other to form neutrons.”

“The neutron star, named Bela pulsar, is now a supercondensed object containing the mass of a Sun-like star in a sphere just a few kilometers in diameter.”

“The Bela pulsar, located in the lower left region of this image, is a relatively faint star and indistinguishable from the thousands of objects next to it.”

Vela SNR's new image is the largest DECam image ever published, containing an astonishing 1.3 gigapixels.

“The striking reds, yellows, and blues in this image were achieved by using three DECam filters, each collecting a specific color of light,” the researchers said.

“Separate images were taken with each filter and stacked on top of each other to produce this high-resolution color image showing the intricate web-like filaments snaking throughout the expanding gas cloud.”

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Webb Observatory detects radiation from the neutron star remnant of supernova 1987A

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SN 1987A is the only supernova visible to the naked eye in the past 400 years and the most studied supernova in history. This event was a nuclear collapse supernova, meaning that the compressed remains of its core formed either a neutron star or a black hole. Evidence for such compact objects has long been sought, and while indirect evidence for the existence of neutron stars has been found before, most likely the effects of high-energy emissions from young neutron stars have not been detected. This is the first time I have done so.

Webb observed the best evidence to date for radiation from neutron stars in SN 1987A. Image credits: NASA / ESA / CSA / STScI / C. Fransson, Stockholm University / M. Matsuura, Cardiff University / MJ Barlow, University College London / PJ Kavanagh, Maynooth University / J. Larsson, KTH Royal Institute of Technology.

SN 1987A was first observed on February 23, 1987 at the edge of the Large Magellanic Cloud, about 163,000 light-years away.

This was the first supernova to be observed with the naked eye since Johannes Kepler witnessed one more than 400 years ago.

About two hours before the first visible light observation of SN 1987A, three observatories around the world detected a burst of neutrinos that lasted just a few seconds.

The two different types of observations were associated with the same supernova event and provided important evidence that informs theories about how nuclear collapse supernovae occur.

This theory included the expectation that supernovae of this type would form neutron stars or black holes.

Since then, astronomers have been searching for evidence of these compact objects at the center of expanding debris.

Indirect evidence for the presence of neutron stars at the center of remnants has been discovered in recent years, with observations of much older supernova remnants such as the Crab Nebula showing that neutron stars have been found in many supernova remnants. has been confirmed.

However, until now no direct evidence of neutron star formation in the aftermath of SN 1987A has been observed.

“Theoretical models of SN 1987A suggest that the 10-second burst of neutrinos observed just before the supernova explosion led to the formation of a neutron star or black hole,” said lead author of the study. said Claes Fransson, an astronomer at Stockholm University.

“However, no convincing signs of such a newborn object due to a supernova explosion have been observed.”

“With this observatory, we found direct evidence of ejection caused by a newborn compact object, likely a neutron star.”

In the study, Dr. Franson et al. mm and NIR spec Instruments on NASA/ESA/CSA's James Webb Space Telescope observed SN 1987A at infrared wavelengths, showing that a heavy mass whose outer electrons have been stripped (i.e., atoms have become ionized) near where the star exploded occurred. They found evidence of argon and sulfur atoms. .

They modeled a variety of scenarios in which these atoms could be driven solely by ultraviolet or They discovered that it could have been ionized only by the wind. (Pulsar wind nebula).

If the former scenario were true, the neutron star's surface would be about 1 million degrees Celsius, cooling from about 100 billion degrees Celsius at the moment it formed at its collapse center more than 30 years ago.

Professor Mike Barlow of University College London said: “The detection of strong ionizing argon and sulfur emission lines from the very center of the nebula surrounding SN1987A using Webb's MIRI and NIRSpec spectrometers suggests a central source of ionizing radiation. This is direct evidence of the existence of .

“Our data can only match neutron stars as the power source of ionizing radiation.”

“This radiation is not only emitted from the multi-million-degree surface of a hot neutron star, but also from the pulsar winds that may be produced when a neutron star spins rapidly, dragging charged particles around it. It can also be emitted from nebulae.”

“The mystery surrounding whether neutron stars are hidden in dust has been going on for more than 30 years, so we are very happy to have solved it.”

“Supernovae are the main source of the chemical elements that make life possible, so we want to accurately derive the supernova model.”

“No other object like the neutron star SN 1987A is so close to us and formed so recently. The surrounding material is expanding, so we'll see more of it over time. It will be.”

“It was clear that there had to be a high-energy radiation source at the center of the SN 1987A debris to produce the ions observed in the ejecta,” Dr. Franson said.

“The paper discusses a variety of possibilities, but we found that only a few scenarios are likely, and all of them involve newly formed neutron stars.”

of paper Published in the February 22, 2024 edition of the Journal science.

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C. Franson other. 2024. Emission lines from ionizing radiation from a compact object in the remains of supernova 1987A. science 383 (6685): 898-903; doi: 10.1126/science.adj5796

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Astronomers believe at least two supernova explosions produced supernova remnant 30 Doradas B

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30 Doradas BThis galaxy, also cataloged as NGC 2060, is discovered in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a small satellite galaxy of the Milky Way.


At the center of this complex landscape of bright, colorful gas clouds is the supernova remnant 30 Doradas B. Image credit: NASA / CXC / Pennsylvania State University / Townsley other. / STScI / HST / JPL / CalTech / SST / SAO / J. Schmidt / N. Wolk / K. Arcand.

30 Doradus B is part of a large star-forming region where stars have been forming continuously over the past 8 to 10 million years.

It is located 160,000 light-years from Earth in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a complex landscape of dark clouds of gas, young stars, high-energy shocks, and superheated gas.

In a new study, astronomer Weian Chen of National Taiwan University and his colleagues used 30 high-resolution images of the Doradas B type from several telescopes on the ground and in space, including NASA/ESA's Hubble Space Telescope and the Australian Square Kilometer Array Pathfinder. The resolution multi-wavelength images were analyzed. , NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope and Chandra X-ray Observatory.

Researchers detected a faint X-ray shell about 130 light-years in diameter.

Chandra's data also revealed that 30 Doradas B contains a wind of particles blown away from the pulsar, forming what is known as a pulsar wind nebula.

Combining data from Hubble and other telescopes, researchers determined that a single supernova explosion could not explain what they were seeing.

Both the pulsar and the bright X-rays seen at the center of Doradas 30 B may have resulted from a supernova explosion after the collapse of a massive star about 5,000 years ago.

But the larger, dimmer X-ray shell is too large to have come from the same supernova.

“Rather, we believe that at least two supernova explosions occurred in Doradas 30 B, using X-ray shells produced by another supernova more than 5,000 years ago,” the scientists said.

“It's quite possible that more has happened in the past.”

“These results will help us learn more about the lives of massive stars and the effects of supernova explosions.”

a paper Regarding the survey results, astronomy magazine.

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Chen Weian other. 2023. New insights about 30 Dor B revealed by high-quality multiwavelength observations. A.J. 166, 204; doi: 10.3847/1538-3881/acff72

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