Friday, April 4 2008
A group consisting of the University of Tokyo, JAXA, Hokkaido University, Hiroshima University and other researchers made observations through the infrared satellite AKARI of the supernova 2006jc discovered by Koichi Itagaki.
The group tried to uncover the mysteries of the supernova through cooperative and continuous observations from the ground using the Subaru Telescope, the MAGNUM Telescope and the KANATA 1.5-m telescope.
As a result, detailed images of the birth of cosmic dust were captured for the first time. A star that is about to die after a supernova explosion expels materials like cosmic dust into space, which will be the raw materials for planets and other life.
At the same time, through comparisons between observation data of multiple wavelengths from visible rays to infrared rays, and the latest theoretical model, the team succeeded to capture the images of a star with a mass 40 times greater than the Sun from its repeated mass ejections to its supernova explosion at the end of its life.
These series of images revealed the state of the formation of the chemically enriched space environment by cosmic dust consisting of carbon and silicon that was formed during this procedure.
Credit: JAXA.
Subaru Telescope visible light image after supernova 2006jc (550 nm wavelength).
Credit: JAXA.
Subaru Telescope visible light image six months after the explosion (550 nm wavelength).
Credit: JAXA.
Akari near-mid-infrared (3 micrometers wavelength) image six months after supernova 2006jc. Akari was able to spot the dust glowing brightly.
Credit: JAXA.
Three pseudo-color composite chart, 3 micrometers (blue), 7 micrometers (green), 11 micrometers imaging data (red).
| Source: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency | |
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