Science News: NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) have released a stunning new image, in which the Hubble Space Telescope has captured the dazzling sight of a supernova within the galaxy LEDA 857074. Located in the constellation Eridanus, this barred spiral galaxy is characterised by its partially broken spiral arms. The image, taken on August 5, 2024, shows the bright supernova, named SN 2022ADQZ, shining prominently on the right side of the galaxy’s bar.
Astronomers first detected supernova SN 2022ADQZ through an automated survey in late 2022. This discovery prompted a closer examination of its host galaxy, LEDA 857074, using the unparalleled vision of the Hubble Space Telescope in early 2023. According to NASA, Hubble can discern distant supernovae, even those billions of light-years away — something ground-based telescopes can't do as they often struggle to separate the supernova’s light from that of its host galaxy.
This Hubble Find Will Provide Invaluable Data: NASA
Supernovae, which are the explosive deaths of massive stars, are among the most dramatic events in the universe. They occur when a supermassive star exhausts its hydrogen fuel, leading to a series of increasingly heavy fusion reactions.
As these reactions progress, they generate less outward force, eventually causing the star's core to collapse under its own gravity, NASA explains, adding that this collapse results in the cataclysmic explosion known as a supernova. Depending on the initial mass of the star, what remains after the explosion can be a dense neutron star or, in cases where the gravitational forces are exceptionally strong, a black hole.
While astronomers detect thousands of supernovae each year, the likelihood of spotting one in any particular galaxy among the millions cataloged remains slim. The discovery of SN 2022ADQZ has now placed LEDA 857074 among a select group of galaxies that have been spotlighted by Hubble, providing invaluable data for the study of these cosmic explosions, NASA said.