Supernovae are rare in the Milky Way, but hundreds are observed and recorded each year in the universe. There are two types: type one involves a thermonuclear explosion, while type two involves the collapse of a star’s core. Astronomers study supernovae to learn about the universe and its bodies. Historically, supernovae sparked discussion and fear […]
iPTF14hls, nicknamed a “zombie star,” has survived five separate supernova events, shining brightly for 600 days. Its brightness varied erratically, breaking what we thought we knew about supernovas. It may have also survived a previous explosion in 1954. The final stage of a giant star’s life is a blaze of glory called a “supernova.” Typically, […]
Pair instability supernovae occur in massive stars with low metallicity. The core’s high energy creates electron-positron pairs, leading to a pressure drop and partial collapse. The resulting thermal energy blows the star apart completely, leaving no remnants. Eta Carinæ could potentially explode in a pair-instability supernova, visible both day and night. A pair instability supernova […]
