Supernova’s Shockwave Detected For The First Time

Space





Photo credit:

Artist's impression of the supernova KSN2011a just as it's about to explode. NASA

For the first time, astronomers have detected the shockwave of a giant star as it becomes a Type-II-P supernova. The observation was made using the Kepler Space Telescope, and has been reported along with a description of an even larger supernova.

When stars exceeding eight times the Sun's mass reach the end of their lives, their cores collapse, triggering a giant explosion. Where a substantial hydrogen envelope survives around the star, these become Type-II-P supernovae.