The double death of the star is captured in amazing image

Over the centuries, an excellent detective story finally came to the conclusion.

Astronomers used a very large telescope from the Southern European Observatory to capture the first visual evidence of a star whose death was not once but twice, explored in a rare double assay, leaving unique fingerprints in the fragments of the universe. The discovery solves a long-term puzzle of how some of the most important explosions in the universe actually work.

These findings, published in natural astronomy, reveal the remains of supernova SNR 0509-67.5, where calcium deposits arranged in two concentric shells provide certain evidence that the white dwarf star experienced a double explosion rather than a single explosion traditionally expected.

Two explosion stories

Most people portray Supernovae as a single, disastrous explosion that marks the dramatic end of the star. However, this discovery confirms that some stars die in a two-act drama. The star in question is the white dwarf – a small, dense core that leaves behind when stars like our Sun run out of nuclear fuel and fall off the outer layer.

“The explosion of the white dwarfs plays a crucial role in astronomy,” explains Priyam Das, a PhD student at the University of Canberra, the University of New South Wales who led the study. These types of IA Supernovae are used as cosmic measurement tapes, helping astronomers discover the accelerated expansion of the universe and won the Nobel Prize in 2011. They are also the main source of iron on the earth, “including iron in our blood.”

Despite their importance, the way these explosions occur remains mysterious. Traditional models suggest that white dwarves accumulate matter from companion stars until they reach the critical mass (Chandrasekhar limit) and then explode in a devastating explosion.

More complex death dance

The dual assay mechanism tells a more complex story. In this case, the white dwarf stole helium from his companion star, forming an unstable shell around it. The helium layer is first ignited to form a shock wave that is on the surface of the star and inward towards its core. When this shock wave reaches the center, it triggers a second, more powerful explosion that eventually destroys the star.

Recent computer simulations predict that this process will leave a unique signature: two independent calcium shells in supernova residues. The team discovered this pattern using a multi-unit spectral explorer (MUSE) instrument of the ESO very large telescope.

The main evidence supporting the dual measurement model includes:

• Two different calcium shells visible in the supernova residue spectrum
• White Dwarfs exploded before reaching the traditional Chandrasekhar quality limit
• Hierarchical structure matches the theoretical prediction of double bursts
• This pattern provides a clear “fingerprint” that distinguishes this mechanism from a single explosion

Cosmic CSI technology

Detection of such excellent autopsy requires sophisticated forensic techniques. The Muse instrument allows astronomers to draw the distribution of different chemical elements throughout the extended fragment field, each showing in a different color. The calcium shell shown in blue reveals the Telltale bilayer structure predicted but never observed by theorists.

Ivo Seitenzahl, who was headed by the Heidelberg Institute for Theorication Instude, Germany, emphasized this significance: These results suggest that “the obvious signs that white dwarves can explode before reaching the famous Chandrasekhar mass limit and that a “double attack” mechanism does occur.”

The impact of this discovery goes far beyond academic curiosity. Type IA supernovae are crucial for measuring cosmic distances because their brightness is predictable, no matter how far they are. Understanding their explosion mechanisms helps explain why they act as such reliable cosmic beacons.

DA discovered other motivations in the pure sight he discovered. “The tangible evidence of this double judgment not only helps dissolution

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