Astronomers Witness , Supergiant Star Explosion , for the First Time.
'The Independent' reports that for the
first time ever, scientists have witnessed
a red supergiant star's explosive end. .
The observation reportedly marks a major
breakthrough in our understanding
of a star's final moments. .
Previously, it seemed that stars remained
relatively calm before dramatically exploding. .
The latest observations revealed bright radiation coming from the star prior to the event. .
This is a breakthrough in our
understanding of what massive stars
do moments before they die, Wynn Jacobson-Galán, the study’s lead author,
via 'The Independent'.
Direct detection of pre-supernova
activity in a red supergiant star has never
been observed before in an ordinary
type II supernova. For the first time,
we watched a red supergiant star explode, Wynn Jacobson-Galán, the study’s lead author,
via 'The Independent'.
The doomed star was first
spotted in the summer of 2020. .
The University of Hawaiʻi Institute
for Astronomy Pan-STARRS on Haleakalā
detected vast amounts of light emitting from it.
Researchers were able to observe
the star for several months before it
exploded in a bright supernova. .
Observations were also made by the nearby
WM Keck Observatory on Maunakea. .
It’s like watching a ticking time bomb.
We’ve never confirmed such violent activity
in a dying red supergiant star where we see
it produce such a luminous emission,
then collapse and combust, until now, Raffaella Margutti, the paper’s senior author,
via 'The Independent'