Astronomers capture first close-up image of star beyond Milky Way, revealing supergiant in gas 'cocoon'

Published On : 2024-11-22T13:44:24+0530 [ IST ] | Author : Mayur_Tembhare
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The star WOH G64 is located 160,000 light years away in the Large Magellanic Cloud a small galaxy orbiting the Milky Way. This massivered supergiant is about 2,000 times the size of the Sun and is undergoing a dramatic transformation

The cocoon may be a result of the star shedding its outer layers potentially signaling its imminent death and the onset of a supernova explosion. Using the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI)

Image source: ESO.org

Astrophysicist Dr. Keiichi Ohnaka highlights key discovery of star’s imminent supernova potential.

Astrophysicist Keiichi Ohnaka highlights key discovery of star’s imminent supernova potential.

Dr. Keiichi Ohnaka an astrophysicist at Andrés Bello National University in Chile described the discovery as exciting stating that the egg-shaped cocoon surrounding the star could be linked to the star shedding material before potentially exploding as

The star in question WOH G64 resides in the Large Magellanic Cloud a small galaxy orbiting the Milky Way about 160,000 light years away. This red supergiant is thought to be one of the largest stars in the galaxy measuring approximately 2,000 times the diameter of our Sun.

Image source: ESO.org

Significance of WOH G64's transformation and its supernova potential explainedSignificance of WOH G64's transformation and its supernova potential

Significance of WOH G64's transformation and its supernova potential explained

Dr. Jacco van Loon explained that typical telescopes cannot provide this level of detail. The images reveal that the star has undergone significant changes in the last decade shedding its outer layers and leaving behind the cocoon of gas and dust that now surrounds it. The star's elongated shape may be the result of its rotation or the presence of an unseen companion star influencing its structure.

Image source: ESO.org

However, tracking these changes in real-time is rare. Van Loon noted that while it may still take tens of thousands of years for WOH G64 to reach its supernova stage for astronomers this is considered a relatively short time


Source : Reporters From Sunrise Chronicles


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Summary :

The star WOH G64 is located 160,000 light years away in the Large Magellanic Cloud a small galaxy orbiting the Milky Way. This massivered supergiant is about 2,000 times the size of the Sun and is