May 14, 2024

A Supernova Afterparty: Hubble Snaps Cosmic Disarray in the Heart of Pegasus

The elegant, winding arms of the magnificent spiral galaxy M51 (NGC 5194) appear like a grand spiral staircase sweeping through area. They are really long lanes of stars and gas laced with dust. Credit: NASA, ESA, S. Beckwith (STScI), and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA).
Astronomers directed Hubble to inspect NGC 7292 throughout an observational project studying the after-effects of Type II supernovae. These enormous surges happen when a huge star collapses and then strongly rebounds in a devastating explosion that tears the star apart. Astronomers intend to find out more about the diversity of Type II supernovae they have actually observed by scrutinizing the after-effects and remaining nearby stars of a big sample of historical Type II supernovae.
NGC 7292s supernova was observed in 1964 and accordingly offered the identifier SN 1964H. Studying the outstanding area of SN 1964H helps astronomers estimate the preliminary mass of the star that went supernova, and could uncover enduring outstanding companions that when shared a system with the star that would end up being SN 1964H.

This somewhat disheveled galaxy is irregular, implying that it does not have the distinct spiral arms of galaxies like the Whirlpool Galaxy (see image listed below) or the smooth elliptical shape of galaxies like Messier 59. As a result, astronomers classify NGC 7292 as a low surface brightness galaxy, hardly appreciable against the backdrop of the night sky. The elegant, winding arms of the magnificent spiral galaxy M51 (NGC 5194) appear like a grand spiral staircase sweeping through space.

NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image of galaxy NGC 7292, situated about 44 million light-years from Earth in the Pegasus constellation. Credit: ESA/Hubble & & NASA, C. Kilpatrick
Hubble Space Telescope imaged the irregular, faint galaxy NGC 7292 in the Pegasus constellation, kept in mind for its stretched-out core and classification as a low surface brightness galaxy. The study focuses on the consequences of its supernova, SN 1964H, to better understand Type II supernovae and the potential enduring excellent companions.
The galaxy NGC 7292 billows across this image from the Hubble Space Telescope, accompanied by a handful of intense stars and the indistinct spots of very far-off galaxies in the background. It lies around 44 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Pegasus.
This slightly disheveled galaxy is irregular, indicating that it lacks the unique spiral arms of galaxies like the Whirlpool Galaxy (see image below) or the smooth elliptical shape of galaxies like Messier 59. As an outcome, astronomers categorize NGC 7292 as a low surface brightness galaxy, barely distinguishable versus the background of the night sky.