Rare Supernova Explosion (Image 1)
February 8, 2011
Core-collapse supernova explosion expelling nearly spherical debris shell.
This is the first time astronomers have found a supernova explosion with properties similiar to a gamma-ray burst, but without seeing any gamma rays from it. Scientists expect the discovery--made using the National Science Foundation's Very Large Array (VLA) radio telescope--will point the way toward locating many more examples of these mysterious explosions. Radio observations will be a more powerful tool for discovering these kind of supernova in the universe than gamma-ray satellites.
This is the first time astronomers have found a supernova explosion with properties similiar to a gamma-ray burst, but without seeing any gamma rays from it. Scientists expect the discovery--made using the National Science Foundation's Very Large Array (VLA) radio telescope--will point the way toward locating many more examples of these mysterious explosions. Radio observations will be a more powerful tool for discovering these kind of supernova in the universe than gamma-ray satellites.
Topics:
Environment, Gamma-ray burst, Supernovae, Supernova, National Science Foundation, SN 2008D, GRB 080916C, Type II supernova, The Universe, Very Large Array
