November 2, 2024

Setting the Clock on a Supernova – Stellar Explosion Just Hundreds of Years Ago in Earth’s Timeframe

Reference: “Evidence for a Dense, Inhomogeneous Circumstellar Medium in the Type Ia SNR 0519-69.0” by Brian J. Williams, Parviz Ghavamian, Ivo R. Seitenzahl, Stephen P. Reynolds, Kazimierz J. Borkowski and Robert Petre, 18 August 2022, The Astrophysical Journal.DOI: 10.3847/ 1538-4357/ ac81ca.
A paper describing these results was published in the August concern of The Astrophysical Journal. The authors of the paper are Brian Williams (NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in Greenbelt, Maryland); Parviz Ghavamian (Towson University, Towson, Maryland); Ivo Seitenzahl (University of New South Wales, Australian Defence Force Academy, Canberra, Australia); Stephen Reynolds (North Carolina State University (NCSU), Raleigh, NC); Kazimierz Borkowski (North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC) and Robert Petre (GSFC). NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center manages the Chandra program. The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatorys Chandra X-ray Center controls science operations from Cambridge, Massachusetts, and flight operations from Burlington, Massachusetts.

Astronomers combined X-ray information from Chandra with those from other telescopes to figure out how long ago the star in the supernova residue called SNR 0519-69.0 blew up and find out about the environment the supernova happened in. These images reveal X-ray information from Chandra and Hubbles optical data of the remnants boundary and surrounding stars. This composite image (top of the page) shows X-ray data from NASAs Chandra X-ray Observatory and optical data from NASAs Hubble Space Telescope. Astronomers combined the data from Chandra and Hubble with information from NASAs retired Spitzer Space telescope to figure out how long ago the star in SNR 0519 exploded. Astronomers discovered the brightest areas in X-rays of the remnant are where the slowest-moving material is situated, and no X-ray emission is associated with the fastest-moving product.

Optical image of SNR 0519-69.0. Credit: NASA/ESA/STScI
SNR 0519 remains in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a little galaxy situated about 160,000 light-years from Earth. This composite image (top of the page) reveals X-ray information from NASAs Chandra X-ray Observatory and optical data from NASAs Hubble Space Telescope. X-rays from SNR 0519 with low, medium, and high energies are displayed in green, blue, and purple respectively, with some of these colors overlapping to appear white. Optical information shows the boundary of the remnant in red and stars around the remnant in white.
Low Energy X-ray picture of SNR 0519-69.0. Credit: NASA/CXC/GSFC/ B. J. Williams et al
. Astronomers integrated the information from Chandra and Hubble with information from NASAs retired Spitzer Space telescope to identify for how long ago the star in SNR 0519 exploded. They were likewise able to discover about the environment the supernova happened in. This data provides researchers a possibility to “rewind” the motion picture of the excellent advancement that has played out since and determine when it started.
Medium Energy X-ray image of SNR 0519-69.0. If the speed was toward the upper end of those estimated speeds, the astronomers identified that light from the surge would have reached Earth about 670 years back.
High Energy X-ray image of SNR 0519-69.0. The Chandra and Spitzer data supply ideas that this is the case. Astronomers found the brightest regions in X-rays of the remnant are where the slowest-moving material is situated, and no X-ray emission is associated with the fastest-moving material.
These results indicate that a few of the blast wave has actually crashed into thick gas around the remnant, causing it to slow down as it traveled. When the time of the stars demise should genuinely be set, astronomers may utilize extra observations with Hubble to determine more specifically.

Astronomers have seen the debris from numerous exploded stars in the Milky Way and neighboring galaxies, it is often tough to identify the timeline of the stars demise. Utilizing NASA telescopes to study the spectacular remains of a supernova in a neighboring galaxy, a team of astronomers has actually found enough clues to assist wind back the clock.
Supernova residue SNR 0519-69.0 (called SNR 0519 for brief) is the particles from a surge of a white dwarf star. After reaching an emergency, either by combining with another white dwarf or pulling matter from a companion star, the star underwent a thermonuclear surge and was destroyed. Researchers utilize this kind of supernova, called a Type Ia, for a vast array of clinical research studies varying from research studies of atomic explosions to determining ranges to galaxies across billions of light-years.

Astronomers combined X-ray information from Chandra with those from other telescopes to identify how long ago the star in the supernova remnant called SNR 0519-69.0 took off and learn about the environment the supernova took place in. These images reveal X-ray information from Chandra and Hubbles optical data of the remnants border and surrounding stars.

A new picture of SNR 0519-69.0 shows the particles of a star that took off several hundred years ago in Earths timeframe.
The surge of a white dwarf star, after reaching a vital mass, produced SNR 0519-69.0.
This new image contains X-ray data (green, blue, and purple) from Chandra and optical data from Hubble (red and white).
This is an unique sort of supernova called a “Type Ia” that astronomers usage to determine widths deep space.