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A massive star about 150 times the size of the Sun exploded in what could be a long-sought new type of supernova, Nasa scientists have said.
Supernovae occur when huge, mature stars effectively run out of fuel and collapse in on themselves.
But scientists believe this one was obliterated in an explosion which blasted all its material into space.
And astronomers say a star in our own Milky Way galaxy could be about to perform the same celestial fireworks.
The supernova star, called SN 2006gy, was originally discovered in September last year.
The explosion was seen to peak for about 70 days, during which it is thought to have shone about five times more brightly than any supernova seen in the past.
"Of all exploding stars ever observed, this was the king," Alex Filippenko, one of the Nasa-backed astronomers observing the phenomenon, said.
BBC News Full report
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6633609.stm
Supernovae occur when huge, mature stars effectively run out of fuel and collapse in on themselves.
But scientists believe this one was obliterated in an explosion which blasted all its material into space.
And astronomers say a star in our own Milky Way galaxy could be about to perform the same celestial fireworks.
The supernova star, called SN 2006gy, was originally discovered in September last year.
The explosion was seen to peak for about 70 days, during which it is thought to have shone about five times more brightly than any supernova seen in the past.
"Of all exploding stars ever observed, this was the king," Alex Filippenko, one of the Nasa-backed astronomers observing the phenomenon, said.
BBC News Full report
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6633609.stm