SN 2019ehk tagged posts

Calcium-Rich Supernova examined with X-rays for first time

Artist’s interpretation of the calcium-rich supernova 2019ehk. shown in orange is the calcium-rich material created in the explosion. purple coloring represents gas shedded by the star right before the explosion, which then produced bright x-ray emission when the material collided with the supernova shockwave
Credit: Aaron M. Geller, Northwestern University

X-ray images give unprecedented view of extremely rare type of supernova. New information suggests that these supernovae start as compact stars that lose mass at the end of life. Calcium-rich supernovae are responsible for up to half the calcium in the entire universe. SN 2019ehk has the richest calcium emission of all known transients.

Called “calcium-rich supernovae,” these stellar explosions are so rare that astrophysicists h...

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