Astronomers track down galaxy's youngest observed supernova
Posted: Sat, May 17, 2008, 6:56 AM ET (1056 GMT)
Astronomers used radio and x-ray telescopes to track down the youngest supernova in our galaxy as observed from Earth, an object otherwise undetectable near the center of the galaxy. The object, designated G1.9+0.3, was first detected by the Very Large Array (VLA) radio telescope in the mid-1980s and thought to be the remnant of a supernova whose light first reached the Earth between 400 and 1,000 years ago. Observations last year by the Chandra X-Ray Observatory indicated the supernova remnant was expanding much faster than expected, indicating it was younger than first thought. Followup observations by the VLA confirmed that the supernova remnant was much younger, with the light reaching Earth just 140 years ago. The supernova's location near the center of the galaxy made it impossible to detect it at visible wavelengths.
Astronomers used radio and x-ray telescopes to track down the youngest supernova in our galaxy as observed from Earth, an object otherwise undetectable near the center of the galaxy. The object, designated G1.9+0.3, was first detected by the Very Large Array (VLA) radio telescope in the mid-1980s and thought to be the remnant of a supernova whose light first reached the Earth between 400 and 1,000 years ago. Observations last year by the Chandra X-Ray Observatory indicated the supernova remnant was expanding much faster than expected, indicating it was younger than first thought. Followup observations by the VLA confirmed that the supernova remnant was much younger, with the light reaching Earth just 140 years ago. The supernova's location near the center of the galaxy made it impossible to detect it at visible wavelengths.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Report outlines cost growth in canceled NASA exploration programs
Posted: Sat, Jun 27 11:14 AM ET (1514 GMT) Perseverance Mars rover finds more potential biosignatures
Posted: Sat, Jun 27 11:12 AM ET (1512 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Saturday, July 4
Scourge of satellites could be mitigated with help of ultra-black coating
Royal Astronomical Society — 4:49 pm ET (2049 GMT) NordSpace Opens Ottawa Office with Former Transport Canada Executive & Commercial Space Launch Lead as Vice President
EINPresswire.com — 4:45 pm ET (2045 GMT) GomSpace contributes to ESA’s RAMSES mission with 2 MEUR (22.2 MSEK) contract to support Apophis asteroid exploration
GomSpace — 4:36 pm ET (2036 GMT) Northrop Grumman’s Pegasus Rocket Powers Mission to Extend NASA’s Swift Observatory
Northrop Grumman — 4:35 pm ET (2035 GMT) South Korea sets 2035 target for homegrown Starlink-style network
The Korea Economic Daily — 9:46 am ET (1346 GMT) |
