Key Takeaways:
– Scientists have detailed the 3-D structure and motion of debris left from a supernova spotted nearly 900 years ago.
– First observed as a “guest star” in 1181 by ancient Chinese and Japanese astronomers, researchers did not find the aftermath of the explosion, known as the Pa 30 nebula, until 2013.
– The rare object is a type 1a supernova with a surviving star, surrounded by spiky filaments.
– Observations indicate that the system is structured like a three-layered onion, and the filaments all originated from the same point around 1152 A.D.
Unveiling A Space Enigma
The cosmos is vast and filled with inexplicable phenomena, one of which is a 900-year old supernova, the remnant of a star that was seen to explode roughly nine centuries ago. The enigmatic object wreaks havoc 6,500 light-years from Earth, cloaked in lengthy tendrils of hot sulfur and dubbed a “zombie star”.
The Supernova Puzzle
The supernova in question, once a regular white dwarf star that detonated, is puzzling to astronomers because part of it survived the explosion. It is now observed as an unusual type 1a supernova, one that’s surrounded by spiky filaments stretching approximately three light-years in all directions. The understanding or description of this particularly unique and strange supernova remnant is as elusive as its existence.
Layered Structure and Motion Insights
To discern the structure and motion of this unique supernova, a group of researchers led by astronomer Tim Cunningham at the Harvard & Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Massachusetts used a telescope at the W.M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii. Based on detailed measurements of how fast the filaments are moving relative to Earth, they managed to construct a 3-D reconstruction of the filaments and their journey through space.
The resulting model suggests that the system is constructed akin to a three-layered onion, the innermost layer being the star, followed by a gap of one or two light-years which ends in a spherical shell of dust, with the outermost layer constituting the filaments.
Mystery of the Filament Formation
The direction, formation, and maintenance of the straight-line shapes of the filaments over centuries remain a mystery to the researchers. A plausible guess could be that a shock wave from the explosion might have ricocheted off the diffuse material between stars and bounced back toward the white dwarf, manipulating the material into the spikes that we see today.
Retracing Filament Origins
Further into their investigation, researchers also established that the remnant was almost definitely from the guest star of 1181. Through backward tracing of the filaments’ speeds and positions, they found that all filaments emanated from the same point around the year 1152 A.D, giving or taking 75 years.
As scientific advancements continue, the enigma surrounding this intriguing supernova remnant is likely to be further elucidated. These new insights offer a critical step towards understanding the bizarre elements of our universe in completely unprecedented ways.
While the full picture of this intriguing celestial object leverages more investigations and theoretical studies, it’s certain that even the mystifying tendrils of a zombie star can shed light on the secrets of the cosmos, starting with a 900-year old supernova explosion. This understanding could further deepen our knowledge of stellar behavior and formation, eventually leading us to uncharted territories of astronomical study.