A naukri.com initiative
Earthsky
1w
193
Image Credit: Earthsky
How to catch a supernova explosion before it happens
- Astronomers are searching for ways to identify stars that are about to go supernova so they can watch the event unfold in real-time and gain insights into these enormous explosions.
- Finding such a star is no easy task but scientists have been successful in some cases by observing the star's behaviour in real-time before the explosion.
- Astronomers hope that the forthcoming Vera C. Rubin Observatory will aid their search for supernova precursors.
- Massive stars can undergo great eruptions, which might be mistaken for supernovas but they ultimately do not destroy the star.
- Observing these pre-supernova eruptions offers scientists a rare opportunity to uncover the mysteries of supernova explosions.
- One compelling hypothesis suggests that interaction with multiple stars may account for the changes in brightness, signalling the approach of a star's final moments.
- In 2025, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory will begin to study these events, providing opportunities to search for fainter precursor activity.
- By recognizing the signals that indicate a star is nearing the end of its life, we can alert the scientific community and be ready to watch as a star experiences its final moments.
- Observatories such as the European Southern Observatory and the Zwicky Transient Facility are currently used to identify the signs that indicate a star is nearing the end of its life.
- The discovery of SN2023fyq, which provided astronomers with a rare opportunity to observe the first light from a supernova shock breakout, offers insights into the conditions leading up to these cosmic events.
Read Full Article
11 Likes
For uninterrupted reading, download the app