Supernova Explodes With the Force of 100 Million Suns
Supernova Explodes With the Force of 100 Million Suns
Astronomers have discovered signs of a massive stellar explosion 30 million years ago that would have produced the equivalent force of millions of suns blowing up all at once.
The ancient star would have ballooned to 200 times the size of the sun and the epic blast would have spewed out material into the universe at 36 million kilometres an hour (22.4 million mph).
Researchers believe that their analysis of the supernova, which has been visible in the night sky since 2013, can teach us more about the violent deaths of stars in the universe.
Astronomers have discovered signs of a massive stellar explosion 30 million years ago which would have produced the equivalent force of millions of suns blowing up all at once. Stock image. The team studied observations of the explosion, called Supernova 2013ej, taken by a number of telescopes
The international team, led by researchers at Southern Methodist University, Dallas, have analysed the aftermath of the massive star’s end, which exploded in the distant M74 galaxy.
It is so far away that light from the supernova took 30 million years to reach Earth.
‘There are so many characteristics we can derive from the early data,’ said Govinda Dhungana, lead author of the study.
‘This was a big massive star, burning tremendous fuel. When it finally reached a point its core couldn’t support the gravitational pull inward, suddenly it collapsed and then exploded.’
The huge supernova, called SN2013ej is believed to be the remnants of an star 30 million light years away in the M74 galaxy (illustrated). Measurements show that the star was far less dense to begin with, at just 15 times the mass of the sun
The team studied observations of the explosion, called Supernova 2013ej, taken by a number of telescopes, which capture the corner of the cosmos before the explosion up to 450 days afterwards.
From these they were able to work out how the star’s characteristics changed as it exploded – including its temperature, mass and radius, and even its composition and how the debris spread.
Measurements show that the star was far less dense to begin with, at just 15 times the mass of the sun.
Ten days after the initial explosion it was burning at a fierce 22,000 degrees Fahrenheit (12,200 C), but cooled rapidly to just 7,640 F (4,220) after 50 days. By comparison, the Sun burns at a steady 9,900 F (5,480 C).
What’s more, the team believes there may have been planets orbiting the star before it exploded.
Professor Robert Kehoe, who leads the astrophysics team at SMU, explained: ‘If you were nearby, you wouldn't know there was a problem beforehand, because at the surface you can't see the core heating up and collapsing.
‘Then suddenly it explodes and you're toast.’
By studying the remnants of the star, astronomers hope to uncover what gets left behind in the wake of supernovae.
It is thought that the remains of the star become more dense, but this could lead to a super dense neutron star, but they could go even further, collapsing under their own mass until the form a black hole.
One of the ultimate fates of a supernova is a neutron star - a super dense class of star which may be a fraction of its former size, but maintain much of the mass in a condensed core (illustrated). Stock image
'The core collapse and how it produces the explosion is particularly tricky,' said Professor Kehoe.
'Part of what makes SN 2013ej so interesting is that astronomers are able to compare a variety of models to better understand what is happening.
'Using some of this information, we are also able to calculate the distance to this object.
'This allows us a new type of object with which to study the larger universe, and maybe someday dark energy.'
By studying the spectral emissions of stars, astrophysicists can work out what they are made up of, with elements of the periodic table giving different spectral readings.
But under some circumstances this could go even further, with the star collapsing under its own mass until it forms a black hole (illustrated). Stock image
The team reports that by using this information they can provide a stellar CAT scan, peering into the star to work out what it is, or was, made of.
And from this, we could even glean more insight into how our own solar system formed.
'Supernovae have death and birth written all over them,' added Professor Kehoe.
'Not only do they create the elements we are made of, but the shockwave that goes out from the explosion -- that's where our solar system comes from.'
'Outflowing material slams into clouds of material in interstellar space, causing it to collapse and form a solar system.
'The heavy elements made in the supernova and its parent star are those which comprise the bulk of terrestrial planets, like Earth, and are necessary for life.'
The findings are published in The Astrophysical Journal.
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