A groundbreaking study by a multinational team of astronomers, led by Israel's Weizmann Institute of Science (WIS), has captured a supernova explosion in unprecedented detail. Described as a \"once-in-a-lifetime\" event, this supernova offers insights that were previously unattainable.
Using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, the team observed one of the closest supernovae in decades—a red supergiant star exploding in the neighboring galaxy Messier 101. This detailed observation allowed researchers to follow the supernova in real-time as its light emerged from the circumstellar material surrounding the star.
For the first time, scientists were able to piece together data from before the star's demise, when it was still a red supergiant. This comprehensive data set has enabled the creation of the most complete portrait of a supernova to date, capturing the star's final days and its explosive end.
One of the most intriguing findings from the study is a significant gap between the mass of material ejected during the explosion and the star's original mass. This discrepancy suggests that the supernova likely left behind a black hole, where the missing mass was absorbed.
Researchers concluded that \"this study presents a unique opportunity to better understand the mechanisms that lead to the conclusion of a star's life and the eventual formation of something entirely new.\" This discovery marks a significant milestone in our understanding of stellar life cycles and the birth of black holes.
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Astronomers map supernova explosion in 'unprecedented' detail
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