Artist's Conception of Type Ia Supernova Explosion (IMAGE)

Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian

Artist's Conception of Type Ia Supernova Explosion

Caption

New research shows that some old stars known as white dwarfs might be held up by their rapid spins, and when they slow down, they explode as Type Ia supernovae. Thousands of these "time bombs" could be scattered throughout our Galaxy. In this artist's conception, a supernova explosion is about to obliterate an orbiting Saturn-like planet.

Credit

David A. Aguilar (CfA)

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