Most distant supernova yet seen.Most distant supernova supernova, a massive star in the latter stages of stellar evolution that suddenly contracts and then explodes, increasing its energy output as much as a billionfold. yet seen About 5 billion years ago, a star exploded ex·plode v. ex·plod·ed, ex·plod·ing, ex·plodes v.intr. 1. To release mechanical, chemical, or nuclear energy by the sudden production of gases in a confined space: into a supernova bright enough to be seen from Earth (5 billion light-years away) for barely a month. Fortunately, Danish astronomer Hans Ulrik Norgaard-Nielsen happened to be studying that part of the sky with te Danish 1.5-meter telescope at the European Southern Observatory European Southern Observatory (ESO), an intergovernmental organization for astronomical research with headquarters in Garching, near Munich, Germany. The ESO began in 1962 as a consortium among Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden. in Chile when the supernova's light reached Earth this summer. The star, the most distant supernova yet detected, is part of a galaxy in a cluster known as AC118, and would not have been recognizable by itself had it not blown up. It was detected by Norgaard-Nielson on Aug. 9, possibly less than a week after the brightening due to its explosion first reached Earth. Spectral measurements were hastily hast·y adj. hast·i·er, hast·i·est 1. Characterized by speed; rapid. See Synonyms at fast1. 2. Done or made too quickly to be accurate or wise; rash: a hasty decision. made, and by Sept. 6 the supernova had already faded to a point too faint to see. |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion