Astronomers Capture First Image of a Star That Exploded Twice

Astronomers have captured the first visual evidence of a white dwarf star undergoing a double detonation, where it explodes twice, challenging previous understanding that such stars only explode once after reaching the Chandrasekhar limit. Using the VLT, they studied supernova SNR 0509-67.5, revealing structures indicating a double explosion, which could reshape theories about supernova mechanisms and their role as cosmic distance markers.