Brightest supernova ever observed

[marcus]

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/07may_bigsupernova.htm?list45222

"Of all exploding stars ever observed, this was the king", said Alex Filippenko, who leads two of the observation teams involved in the discovery.

The star that exploded was 150 times as massive as the sun.
The explosion occurred in another galaxy, 240 million lightyears away, not in our Milky Way galaxy.

A new explosion-mechanism has been proposed, that applies only to these very massive stars.
By this mechanism, unlike other supernova models, the star can explode BEFORE it has exhausted its fusion fuel

 

[Astronuc]

That dude occurred in 2006, and now they report about it!?

Anyway SN 2006gy is in NGC 1260. See more details on -
http://www.rochesterastronomy.org/sn2006/index.html
It had a maximum brightness around ~14.9.

Now interestingly, there is another bright SN reported this year
SN 2007af was reported in March
http://www.rochesterastronomy.org/supernova.html#2007af
http://www.supernovae.net/sn2007/sn2007af.html
http://www.astrosurf.com/snweb2/2007/07af/07afHome.htm
http://astrosurf.com/blazar/super/SN07/SN2007af.html (light curve of SN2007af)

Need to compare light curves.

 

[sir-pinski]

.

The discovery of the brightest supernova ever observed is truly remarkable and sheds new light on the complex process of stellar explosions. With a staggering 150 times the mass of our sun, this star was truly a behemoth in the universe. It is incredible to think that the explosion occurred in a galaxy 240 million lightyears away, showcasing the vastness of our universe.

The fact that this supernova occurred before the star had exhausted its fusion fuel challenges previous models and theories of stellar explosions. This new mechanism proposed by the observation teams involved highlights the need for continued research and exploration in the field of astrophysics. It is through these groundbreaking discoveries that we can deepen our understanding of the universe and the processes that govern it.

The dedication and expertise of the observation teams, led by Alex Filippenko, have allowed us to witness this extraordinary event. Their hard work and commitment to unraveling the mysteries of the cosmos are truly commendable. I am excited to see what other secrets of the universe will be revealed through their continued efforts.

This brightest supernova ever observed serves as a reminder of the immense power and beauty of the universe. It is a testament to the incredible forces at play in the vastness of space and inspires us to continue exploring and learning about the wonders of our universe.