Supernova 100 Billion Times Brighter Than the Sun Explained
- 10 years ago
Experts are offering a scientific explanation for the white dwarf supernova over nine billion light-years away from Earth, that appeared to be 100 billion times brighter than the Sun in our solar system.
Experts are offering a scientific explanation for the white dwarf supernova over nine billion light-years away from Earth, that appeared to be 100 billion times brighter than the Sun in our solar system.
The scientists discovered another galaxy between Earth and the supernova that acts as a magnifying glass for the light from the exploding star, which was first measured as shining 30 times brighter than any other star in the same class.
A few rare cases of supernovas have been measured with similarly bright luminosities, but this one also had some other unique characteristics.
At first, the galaxy magnifying the supernova wasn’t visible, which caused the initial confusion about the conditions of the white dwarf.
Doctor Robert Quimby of the University of Tokyo's Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe is quoted as saying: “Although this warping of space time probably created four separate images of the supernova when viewed from Earth, we find that these likely appeared as a single source after atmospheric blurring.”
Experts are offering a scientific explanation for the white dwarf supernova over nine billion light-years away from Earth, that appeared to be 100 billion times brighter than the Sun in our solar system.
The scientists discovered another galaxy between Earth and the supernova that acts as a magnifying glass for the light from the exploding star, which was first measured as shining 30 times brighter than any other star in the same class.
A few rare cases of supernovas have been measured with similarly bright luminosities, but this one also had some other unique characteristics.
At first, the galaxy magnifying the supernova wasn’t visible, which caused the initial confusion about the conditions of the white dwarf.
Doctor Robert Quimby of the University of Tokyo's Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe is quoted as saying: “Although this warping of space time probably created four separate images of the supernova when viewed from Earth, we find that these likely appeared as a single source after atmospheric blurring.”