Astronomers track down galaxy's youngest observed supernova
Posted: Sat, May 17, 2008, 6:56 AM ET (1056 GMT)
Astronomers used radio and x-ray telescopes to track down the youngest supernova in our galaxy as observed from Earth, an object otherwise undetectable near the center of the galaxy. The object, designated G1.9+0.3, was first detected by the Very Large Array (VLA) radio telescope in the mid-1980s and thought to be the remnant of a supernova whose light first reached the Earth between 400 and 1,000 years ago. Observations last year by the Chandra X-Ray Observatory indicated the supernova remnant was expanding much faster than expected, indicating it was younger than first thought. Followup observations by the VLA confirmed that the supernova remnant was much younger, with the light reaching Earth just 140 years ago. The supernova's location near the center of the galaxy made it impossible to detect it at visible wavelengths.
Astronomers used radio and x-ray telescopes to track down the youngest supernova in our galaxy as observed from Earth, an object otherwise undetectable near the center of the galaxy. The object, designated G1.9+0.3, was first detected by the Very Large Array (VLA) radio telescope in the mid-1980s and thought to be the remnant of a supernova whose light first reached the Earth between 400 and 1,000 years ago. Observations last year by the Chandra X-Ray Observatory indicated the supernova remnant was expanding much faster than expected, indicating it was younger than first thought. Followup observations by the VLA confirmed that the supernova remnant was much younger, with the light reaching Earth just 140 years ago. The supernova's location near the center of the galaxy made it impossible to detect it at visible wavelengths.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, June 9
Irish company secures €1 million contract with European Space Agency
Irish Times — 5:52 am ET (0952 GMT) USSF Seeking Small, Medium-Launch Providers At Vandenberg
Aviation Week — 5:49 am ET (0949 GMT) Virgin Galactic’s Shares Take Wild Ride
Orange County (CA) Business Journal — 5:47 am ET (0947 GMT) How Elon Musk’s Friendship With the F.C.C. Smooths the Way for SpaceX’s I.P.O.
New York Times — 5:46 am ET (0946 GMT) SpaceX IPO Is Well Oversubscribed With $10 Billion Orders
Bloomberg News — 5:45 am ET (0945 GMT) |
