The Death Star. Astronomers watch the explosion of a red supergiant in space (video)

Previously, the process of supernova formationastronomers could study by indirect signs, manifested as a result of their explosion. However, with the help of a telescope in Hawaii, scientists were able in 2020 to record the process of preparation and explosion of a type 2 red supergiant, called SN 2020tlf.

Scientists at the Hawaiian Keck Observatoryobservation in the summer of 2020, identifying a red supergiant by a powerful light signal. Already in September of the same year, a flash was recorded, signaling the explosion of a star. This is the first time such a phenomenon has been observed from Earth.

According to the results of observation, astronomers have determinedthe presence of dense circumstellar matter that surrounded the star at the time of the explosion. Scientists determined that the exploded star was a red supergiant, with a mass about 10 times that of the sun. The star is located at a distance of about 120 million light-years from Earth in the galaxy NGC 5731.

The study of the stages of events preceding the explosion,will allow a more detailed description of the mechanism of formation and evolution of stars and will confirm or refute the theoretical research of modern astronomy about the last moments of the "life" of red supergiants. To illustrate the process, scientists presented a video demonstrating the process of the explosion of SN 2020tlf.

Source: space