supernovae
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Astronomers Watch in Real Time as Epic Supernova Potentially Births a Black Hole
A team of astronomers recently captured a series of images of a distant star as it went supernova, providing a remarkable play-by-play of stellar death and possibly the birth of a black hole. Supernovae are massive explosions that occur when massive stars die. These events sometimes leave nebulae, neutron stars, or even black holes in…
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Webb Telescope Spots Eye-Shaped Supernova With a Messy Filling
The Webb Space Telescope recently imaged Supernova 1987A (SN 1987A), one of the brightest supernovae in the night sky and the nearest observed in centuries, according to NASA. The image spans 8.5 light years and was taken in September 2022, but was only published today. It is composed of several exposures taken by Webb’s Near-Infrared…
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This ‘Unusual Star’ Is Unlike Anything Astronomers Have Seen Before
Space is full of surprises, like this apparent star — which, given the tumultuous circumstances of its formation, shouldn’t really exist.
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How Neon Can Make A Star Destroy Itself
Some stars have the element neon to thank for their ultimate, explosive demise, according to astrophysical research.