Astronomers Witness the Full Cycle of Stellar Evolution

Astronomers Witness the Full Cycle of Stellar Evolution

 

July 30, 2023

 

In a major breakthrough, astronomers have for the first time witnessed the full cycle of stellar evolution, from birth to death. The discovery was made using the Chandra X-ray Observatory, which was able to track the evolution of a star over millions of years.

 

The star, known as VFTS 242, is located in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a neighboring galaxy to the Milky Way. VFTS 242 is a massive star, about 25 times the mass of the Sun. Such stars have very short lifespans, typically only a few million years.

 

Chandra's observations showed that VFTS 242 began its life as a main sequence star, burning hydrogen in its core. As the hydrogen fuel in the core was depleted, the star began to evolve. It expanded and cooled, becoming a red giant.

 

In the red giant phase, VFTS 242 began to fuse helium in its core. This process produced a large amount of energy, which caused the star to become even brighter and hotter. The star's outer layers were blown off, forming a planetary nebula.

 

The final stage of VFTS 242's evolution was a supernova explosion. The supernova explosion was so powerful that it could be seen from Earth.

 

The discovery of VFTS 242 provides a rare glimpse into the full cycle of stellar evolution. It is a major step forward in our understanding of how stars work and how they die.

 

The discovery was made by a team of astronomers led by Dr. Paul Crowther of the University of Sheffield. The team's findings were published in the journal Nature.

 

"This is a truly remarkable discovery," said Dr. Crowther. "We have never before been able to see the full cycle of stellar evolution in such detail. This is a major step forward in our understanding of how stars work and how they die."

 

The discovery of VFTS 242 is a reminder of the power of astronomy. By studying the stars, we can learn about the origins and evolution of the universe.