Jump to content
  • Sign Up
×
×
  • Create New...

Recommended Posts

  • Diamond Member
Explore Hubble

2 min read

Hubble Studies a Spiral’s Supernova Scene

This is the hidden content, please
This NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image features the barred spiral galaxy IC 758.
ESA/Hubble & NASA, C. Kilpatrick

This serene spiral galaxy hides a cataclysmic past. The galaxy IC 758, shown in this NASA/ESA

This is the hidden content, please
image, is situated 60 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major.

Hubble captured this image in 2023. IC 758 appears peaceful, with its soft blue spiral arms curving gently around its hazy barred center. However, in 1999, astronomers spotted a powerful explosion in this galaxy. The supernova SN 1999bg marked the dramatic end of a star far more massive than the Sun.

Researchers do not know exactly how massive this star was before it exploded, but will use these Hubble observations to measure the masses of stars in SN 1999bg’s neighborhood. These measurements will help them estimate the mass of the star that went supernova. The Hubble data may also reveal whether SN 1999bg’s progenitor star had a companion, which would provide additional clues about the star’s life and death.

A supernova represents more than just the demise of a single star — it’s also a powerful force that can shape its neighborhood. When a massive star collapses, triggering a supernova, its outer layers rebound off its shrunken core. The explosion stirs the interstellar soup of gas and dust out of which new stars form. This interstellar shakeup can scatter and heat nearby gas clouds, preventing new stars from forming, or it can compress them, creating a burst of new star formation. The cast-off layers enrich the interstellar medium, from which new stars form, with heavy elements manufactured in the core of the supernova.

Text Credit: ESA/Hubble

This is the hidden content, please
logo
This is the hidden content, please
This is the hidden content, please
This is the hidden content, please
logo
This is the hidden content, please

Media Contact:

Claire Andreoli (*****@*****.tld)
NASA’s 

This is the hidden content, please
Greenbelt, MD

Share

Details

Last Updated
Jun 13, 2025
Editor
Andrea Gianopoulos
Location
This is the hidden content, please

Related Terms

Keep Exploring

Discover More Topics From Hubble

Hubble Space Telescope

This is the hidden content, please

/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png">

This is the hidden content, please


This is the hidden content, please


This is the hidden content, please


This is the hidden content, please

This is the hidden content, please

For verified travel tips and real support, visit: https://hopzone.eu/

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Vote for the server

    To vote for this server you must login.

    Jim Carrey Flirting GIF

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

Important Information

Privacy Notice: We utilize cookies to optimize your browsing experience and analyze website traffic. By consenting, you acknowledge and agree to our Cookie Policy, ensuring your privacy preferences are respected.