Hubble Space Telescope image of DEM L249, believed to be the residue of a Type 1a supernova. Credit: NASA, ESA, and Y. Chou (Academia Sinica, Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America).
These cosmic ribbons of gas have been left behind by a titanic outstanding surge called a supernova. DEM L249 is believed to be the remnant of a Type 1a supernova, the death of a white dwarf star. White dwarf stars are typically steady, but in a binary system– 2 stars orbiting each other– a white dwarf can gravitationally pull a lot matter from its companion that it reaches critical mass and takes off.
DEM L249, located in the Large Magellanic Cloud, is an uncommon supernova residue. Astronomers using NASAs Chandra X-ray Observatory and the European Space Agencys XMM-Newton found its gas was hotter and shone brighter in the X-rays than the remnant of a common Type 1a supernova. Astronomers presume DEM L249s white dwarf star was more enormous than anticipated– much heavier stars expel more gas– which likewise suggests it would have died previously in its lifecycle.
Hubble took this image while looking for making it through companions of white dwarf stars that went supernova in the Large Magellanic Cloud.
By NASAs Goddard Space Flight
November 12, 2021