Supernova explosion in space recorded by scientists – creating a black hole

About 20 million years ago, in a galaxy not far away, a large star exploded and spewed into space elements that form the building blocks of life.

A year ago, by chance, when the emitted light reached Earth, a team of scientists from Israel observed and collected data for the first time from the early stages of such an explosion called a supernova.

Scientists recorded the early stages of a supernova explosion for the first time

The image they collected provides a detailed look at the origin of elements important to our existence, such as the calcium in our teeth or the iron in our blood.

“In effect, we are watching the cosmic furnace in which heavy chemical elements are formed the moment they are formed. We are observing it as it happens. This is truly a unique opportunity,” commented Avisay Gal-Yam, an astrophysicist at the Weizmann Institute for Science.

The results, published today in the scientific journal Nature, show that the giant star, located in the neighboring galaxy Messier 101 (also known as the “Fork Wheel”), likely left behind a black hole after exploding.

Scientists from Israel's Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot got the most complete look at a supernova ever, as they watched and tracked a star's explosion in real time.@Aaron Reich Reports:https://t.co/FTGFMYvhKs

– Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) March 27, 2024

by accident

An amateur astronomer, who was observing this galaxy, informed the researchers that something had happened. They immediately pointed their telescopes at the star and began recording the first stages of the explosion.

The team, which included doctoral student and lead study author Erez Zimmerman, contacted NASA, which changed its schedule and pointed the Hubble Space Telescope toward the supernova. Thus, ultraviolet rays emanating from the explosion were monitored, which are blocked by the atmosphere and do not reach the Earth.