A breathtaking image of a supernova remnant 160,000 light-years from Earth has offered the first direct evidence that white dwarf stars can explode twice in rapid succession. The image reveals two concentric rings, an unmistakable signature of what scientists call a "double detonation," in which a layer of helium on the star's surface ignites first, triggering a second, larger explosion in the star’s core.
Researchers from the University of New South Wales in Canberra, Australia, analyzed data from the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope in Chile to study the remnant. Their findings suggest that the white dwarf had likely siphoned helium from a nearby star until it reached a critical mass. The result is a rare, two-step detonation that sheds new light on the long-debated mechanism behind how a white dwarf becomes a supernova, something that has not been well understood. The study outlining these findings was published on July 2 in the journal Nature Astronomy.
In our day-to-day lives, it's easy to forget that our planet isn't the only one out there. NASA has been hard at work exploring the far reaches of our own galaxy, as well as uncovering a tiny fraction of the universe's innumerable wonders. Whether you're looking to be reminded of the vastness of existence, or you just want to see some stunning extraterrestrial photography, check out this gallery!