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    SN 2017egm tagged posts

    NASA’s Fermi telescope reveals the power source behind monster supernovae

    May 28, 2026, Categories  Astronomy/Space

    Composite showing optical and gamma-ray observations of SN 2017egm
    This composite image shows two views of SN 2017egm, in visible light (inset) and gamma rays (background). The optical image shows the supernova — the brightest object in the scene — and its host galaxy on July 1, 2017. The background map shows a wide area of the sky surrounding the supernova’s position. Brighter colors indicate greater statistical likelihood that gamma rays are associated with the explosion. The map includes gamma rays detected by Fermi’s Large Area Telescope from July 5, 2017, to Oct. 25, 2017, or from 43 to 155 days after the supernova was discovered.
    Background, NASA/DOE/Fermi LAT Collaboration and Acero et. al. 2026; inset, NOT+ALFSOC/Bose et al. 2020

    NASA’s Fermi telescope has detected what may be the first confirmed gamma-ray signal from a superluminous su...

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    Astronomers discover ‘heavy metal’ supernova rocking out

    August 1, 2017, Categories  Astronomy/Space

    This artist’s impression of SN 2017egm shows the power source for this extraordinarily bright supernova. The explosion was triggered by a massive star that collapsed to form a neutron star with an extremely strong magnetic field and rapid spin, called a magnetar. Debris from the supernova explosion is shown in blue, and the magnetar is shown in red. (Credit: M. Weiss/CfA)

    This artist’s impression of SN 2017egm shows the power source for this extraordinarily bright supernova. The explosion was triggered by a massive star that collapsed to form a neutron star with an extremely strong magnetic field and rapid spin, called a magnetar. Debris from the supernova explosion is shown in blue, and the magnetar is shown in red. (Credit: M. Weiss/CfA)

    Many rock stars don’t like to play by the rules, and a cosmic one is no exception. A team of astronomers has discovered that an extraordinarily bright supernova occurred in a surprising location. This “heavy metal” supernova discovery challenges current ideas of how and where such super-charged supernovas occur. Supernovas are some of the most energetic events in the Universe...

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