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On the Verge of a Star Burst (1 of 5)

Caption: Just before explosion: A red super-giant star approaches the end of its life. There is no more fuel to burn and make it shine. Soon its massive dense core is bound to collapse under its own weight. This image relates to an article that appeared in the June 13, 2008 issue of Science , published by AAAS. The study, by Dr. Kevin Schawinski and colleagues at University of Oxford in Oxford, UK was titled "Supernova Shock Breakout from a Red Supergiant."

Credit: Image courtesy of NASA/HST/COSMOS

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