All articles tagged with #ngc 1637
The JWST has captured a massive red supergiant star just before it exploded in a supernova, providing new insights into how dust obscures these stars and potentially explaining why such supernovae are rarely observed. The star, in galaxy NGC 1637, was unusually red and dimmer due to dust, but JWST's infrared capabilities allowed detailed observation, suggesting previous supernovae might have been more luminous than thought.
Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope captured the first clear image of a star before and after it exploded as a supernova, revealing that the progenitor was a dust-enshrouded red supergiant, which helps explain why such stars are rarely observed before explosion. The discovery provides new insights into the final stages of massive stars and the role of dust in hiding their true nature.
The James Webb Space Telescope has captured the first detailed image of a red supergiant star before it exploded as a supernova, revealing that many such stars are hidden behind thick dust layers, which obscures them from optical telescopes. This discovery helps explain the previously observed scarcity of luminous red supergiants in pre-explosion images and provides new insights into the life cycle of massive stars.