From what we've understood about the life cycle of stars, a supernova is the thrilling death knell: a violent display signifying the end for a star. At least, we thought that's how it went.
When a supernova occurs, a star brightens for about 100 days before going dark. But one star has kept the display up for 600 days now.
According to a study in Nature, supernova iPTF14hls refuses to die. The star was first observed back in September 2014 and chalked up as a fairly textbook example of a star's death.
The supernova has qualities never before seen by scientists. "Instead of a 100-day plateau," the study reports, "the light curve of iPTF14hls lasts over 600 days," and includes "five distinct peaks" where its brightness varies"by as much as 50%."
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When a supernova occurs, a star brightens for about 100 days before going dark. But one star has kept the display up for 600 days now.
According to a study in Nature, supernova iPTF14hls refuses to die. The star was first observed back in September 2014 and chalked up as a fairly textbook example of a star's death.
The supernova has qualities never before seen by scientists. "Instead of a 100-day plateau," the study reports, "the light curve of iPTF14hls lasts over 600 days," and includes "five distinct peaks" where its brightness varies"by as much as 50%."
Continue reading…
Continue reading...