Astronomers have captured the first compelling photographic evidence of a white dwarf star undergoing a double-detonation supernova, confirming a long-debated theory about Type Ia supernovae. Using the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope (VLT), researchers studied the supernova remnant SNR 0509-67.5, approximately 400 years old, located in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way. The images reveal two concentric rings, indicating that the white dwarf exploded twice in rapid succession. The first detonation was triggered by helium buildup on the star's surface, followed by a secondary explosion of the carbon-oxygen core. This discovery provides new insight into the mechanisms behind Type Ia supernovae, which are critical for understanding cosmic phenomena and the distribution of elements such as iron in the universe. The European Southern Observatory and other scientific teams have described this as a major advancement in astrophysics. Additionally, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has marked its third anniversary by releasing detailed images of star-forming regions such as the Cat's Paw Nebula (NGC 6334) and has captured the earliest stages of planet formation around young stars like HOPS-315 and HD 135344B. These observations, combining data from JWST and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), offer unprecedented views into the birth of solar systems and the early development of rocky planets. Furthermore, JWST has identified Jupiter-sized rogue planets drifting freely in space without orbiting a star, challenging previous understandings of planetary formation and dynamics.
The James Webb Space Telescope has just spotted something wild — Jupiter-sized “planets” drifting freely through space, with no star to orbit. These rogue worlds are gravitationally unbound, floating alone in the dark! This discovery is reshaping what we thought we knew about https://t.co/y0EBxp0KLP
James Webb's stunning view of M51 galaxy https://t.co/NwUE7HYJ0N
#ElFinancieroTV | ☄️🌌Astrónomos captaron el nacimiento de un planeta en tiempo real alrededor de la joven estrella HD 135344B. 📺: @SofiaVillalobos https://t.co/8ptHSdg5p0