Uncovering Hidden Supernova Remnants: Astronomers on the Hunt

Astronomers are conducting a new search for supernova remnants in our galaxy using radio observations captured with the Very Large Array (VLA) and the MeerKAT array. Between 300 and 400 supernova remnants have been found in the Milky Way so far, but based on observations of other galaxies, astronomers believe there could be as many as 1,000 in our galaxy. The researchers aim to use machine learning and visual inspection to distinguish the remnants from other forms of nebulosity in the galaxy and study their shape and element distribution to understand how supernovae eject debris and interact with the interstellar medium.