NASA's Kepler sees first 'shock breakout' in exploding star
Updated: 2016-03-22 09:03
(Xinhua)
|
|||||||||
WASHINGTON - Scientists using the US Kepler space telescope said Monday they have captured for the first time the brilliant flash of an exploding star's shockwave, called a "shock breakout," in the visible light range.
|
This artist's concept depicts one possible appearance of the planet Kepler-452b, the first near-Earth-size world to be found in the habitable zone of star that is similar to our sun by the Kepler space telescope. [Photo/Agencies] |
The researchers, led by Peter Garnavich, an astrophysics professor at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, analyzed light captured by Kepler every 30 minutes over a three-year period from some 50 trillion stars.
They were hunting for signs of massive stellar death explosions known as supernovae, which begin when the internal furnace of a star runs out of nuclear fuel causing its core to collapse as gravity takes over.
During an supernovae, a supersonic shockwave is sent out from the star's core, which will then cause a bright flash of light, called a "shock breakout," when it reaches the surface of the star.
"The flash from a breakout should last about an hour, so you have to be very lucky or continuously stare at millions of stars just to catch one flash," said Garnavich.
In the study, the researchers discovered two supernovae in the act of exploding, which were captured by Kepler in 2011.
The first, KSN 2011a, is nearly 300 times the size of Sun and a mere 700 million light years from Earth. The second, KSN 2011d, is roughly 500 times the size of Sun and around 1.2 billion light years away.
While both explosions delivered a similar energetic punch, no shock breakout was seen in KSN 2011a, the smaller of the two stars.
The researchers said that is likely due to the smaller one being surrounded by gas, perhaps enough to mask the shockwave when it reached the star's surface.
The findings will be published by the Astrophysical Journal.
Today's Top News
China to roll out new five-year plan for energy sector
Russia retrieves data from recorder of crashed plane
Paris attacks suspect wounded in Brussels shootout
China's latest GDP target is attainable: OECD Chief
What makes the middle class tick
One-stop app
EU to pitch migrant plan to Turkey
DPRK fires medium-range ballistic missile
Hot Topics
Lunar probe , China growth forecasts, Emission rules get tougher, China seen through 'colored lens', International board,
Editor's Picks
What makes the middle class tick |
One-stop app |
Minister rules out property market collapse |
Man on Mars? Chinese could be the first |
Accidental ballet star on the rise |
Great grains of China |