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For the first time ever, astronomers have unveiled the shape of a star’s explosion at its earliest stage.
The feat was achieved by ESO's Very Large Telescope just a day after the detection of this supernova, as the blast was breaking through the star’s surface.
This brief initial phase wouldn’t have been observable a day later. This will help shed light on how massive stars go supernova.
https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2520/
Illustration: ESO/L. Calçada
@esoastronomy "Artist’s impression of the initial shape of a supernova explosion"
Aren’t there enough fake images out there? You guys don’t need that.
While the supernova appears as a point source from Earth, by observing it in polarised light astronomers were able to work out its shape.
Polarised light waves oscillate in a specific orientation. In a spherical surface the polarisation of all waves across the surface cancels out. But if the surface is elongated there's a net polarisation.
Watch our video summary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHHpONuSZA8
📷 ESO/Y. Yang et al.
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