For the first time, astronomers were able to experience the explosive end of a giant star live.
The first real-time view at the death of a red supergiant star was provided by ground-based telescopes.
The star, located about 120 million light-years from Earth in the galaxy NGC 5731, was ten times larger than the Sun before it exploded.
Before the stars die out, some witness violent eruptions or release large amounts of gas.
The study, which provides details on the star’s death results, was published in the Astrophysical Journal on Thursday.
The events, like the death of a star, can be listed as one of the most dramatic and violent events in space.
In a statement, the study’s senior author Wynn Jacobson-Galan, a graduate researcher with the National Science Foundation at the University of California, Berkeley, said, “This is a great advance in our understanding of what massive stars are doing in moments. Before they die. ”
“ Direct evidence of pre-supernova activity in a red supergiant star has never been seen before in an ordinary Type II supernova. It was the first time we saw a red supergiant star explode, ”added the author.
