In 1604 astronomer Johannes Kepler directly observed the most recent supernova to have originated within the Milky Way. It originated 20,000 light years away and was so bright that it could be seen during the daytime for three weeks.
Within our own galaxy, only five supernovae have been observed with the naked eye in the last millennium. Others have been recorded telescopically – including SN 1987A in the Large Magellanic Cloud.
It’s been estimated that about one or two of these events occur in any single century. Yet the vast distances between the stars and the immense amount of time required for their light to reach us mean that in most cases we are only able to see the stars as they were hundreds or even thousands of years ago.
Although we know which stars have almost exhausted their nuclear fuel reserves and are approaching the end of their lifetimes, we can only surmise when they will ‘go supernova’. Ten candidates of varying ages and sizes are known to be close to death. They may have already exploded, and the light from their agonised death throes may still be hurtling across the universe at 300,000 kilometers (186,000 miles) per second to someday reach us. We may not see a supernova in our lifetime… or we could see one tomorrow.
Denne historien er fra Issue 106-utgaven av All About Space.
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Denne historien er fra Issue 106-utgaven av All About Space.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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15 AUTUMN STARGAZING TARGETS
Go on a night-sky treasure hunt as the brighter evenings give way to the cooler months
MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE WHY IS VENUS SO DRY?
A new study reckons the answer lies high in the Venusian atmosphere
WHEN BLACK HOLES TURN WHITE
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THE MOON'S THIN ATMOSPHERE IS MADE BY CONSTANT METEORITE BOMBARDMENT
While the solar wind also contributes to the atmosphere, meteorites are the main culprit
INTERSTELLAR TRAVEL AND HOW TO BECOME A SPACE TOURIST
Having explored much of the Solar System, attention is now turning to the stars beyond
NASA'S PERSEVERANCE ROVER FINDS POSSIBLE SIGNS OF ANCIENT RED PLANET LIFE
Further analysis is needed, but a rock contains potential evidence that life once existed on Mars in the distant past
A NASA TELESCOPE MAY HAVE FOUND ANTIMATTER ANNIHILATING IN POSSIBLY THE BIGGEST EXPLOSION SINCE THE BIG BANG
The massive explosion was captured in 2022
Jameel Janjua "This is how we get to Mach 3”
Jameel Janjua made it to the bitter end in a Canadian government astronaut selection in 2009, but wasn't chosen. He found a different path to space through Virgin Galactic
BOEING NEEDS TO IMPROVE QUALITY CONTROL ON THE SLS MOON ROCKET
The NASA Inspector General's report finds serious quality-control issues affecting the upgraded version and expects cost overruns and delays
DARK ENERGY
THE MOST DOMINANT FORCE IN THE UNIVERSE IS ALSO ITS MOST MYSTERIOUS AND MOST UNANTICIPATED