Astronomers have captured the first image of a star that died in a stellar 'double-detonation', resulting in a supernova remnant. This discovery enhances knowledge about white dwarfs, which are remnants of low-mass stars. White dwarfs play a significant role in astronomy, although the exact mechanism of their explosions remains unclear. Stars undergo various end-of-life phenomena, including supernovae that can form neutron stars or black holes. In binary star systems, the gravity of white dwarfs can strip matter from companions, eventually leading to a destructive thermonuclear explosion.
The explosions of white dwarfs play a crucial role in astronomy. Yet, despite their importance, the long-standing puzzle of the exact mechanism triggering their explosion remains unsolved.
The phenomena imaged by the VLT is the work of what's called a Type Ia supernova, produced by a low-mass star that exhausted all its fuel.
In binary systems, the powerful gravity of the white dwarf can lead to the stripping of matter off its stellar companion, causing a thermonuclear explosion.
Their findings deepen our understanding of the stellar evolution of burned-out stars called white dwarfs.
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