Scientists watch enormous star violently explode after ominous goodbye

CNET ^ | 07 January 2022 | Monisha Ravisetti

[blueplum]

For years, experts thought the biggest stars in the universe, red supergiants, died with a whimper. But in 2020, astronomers witnessed quite the opposite. One of these gleaming monsters -- 10 times more massive than the sun -- violently self-destructed after presenting the cosmos with a final, radiant beacon of starlight.

..Jacobson-Galán is the lead author of a paper published Thursday in The Astrophysical Journal that documents the star's eruption as well as its last, 130-day hurrah....

...The star's extreme illumination indicated it wasn't dormant, or quiescent, as previously observed red supergiants had been prior to their demise. This shiny orb was very much active as it deteriorated,...

[blueplum]

video simulation at article link and if you want to cut to the fine print, paper titled, "Final Moments. I. Precursor Emission, Envelope Inflation, and Enhanced Mass Loss Preceding the Luminous Type II Supernova 2020tlf" HERE, and also linked in the article

[bagster]

That star was all like, "Chow mein. I'm out".

#WouldYouKnowMyName

[entropy12]

Did someone discard a lighted cigarette butt there?

[bagster]

Well, it looks like he had time to get his affairs in order. He lived a good, long life. Don't be too sad, bluevax. We all have to go some time.

[Telepathic Intruder]

"For years, experts thought the biggest stars in the universe, red supergiants, died with a whimper."

Actually they've known since the 1930's that stars above about 10 solar masses produce a supernova explosion at the end of their lifetimes.

[FreeperCell]

The DNC?

[GOP Poet]

lol

[Libloather]

[Kartographer]

The star doesn’t seem to have a proper name, may I humbly suggest Karen.

[SkyDancer]

Who is that?

[paulcissa]

ACK! WTH?

[moovova]

Barbra Streisand.

From her better days...

[SkyDancer]

Thanks!

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

It happened 120 million or so light years ago. The light is just now reaching the earth.

[SunkenCiv]

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• Astronomers Capture Red Supergiant Star Exploding in Massive Supernova – For the Very First Time [01/07/2022]
• Astronomers witness a dying star reach its explosive end [01/06/2022]

[jmacusa]

ARRG!! My eyes!!