NASA Telescope Detects Gamma Rays from Rare Supernova Powered by Magnetar
Similar Articles
Astronomers Detect Unusual Cosmic Event Possibly Linking Supernova and Kilonova
Gravitational Lens Reveals Distant Supernova, Aiding Measurement of Universe's Expansion
NASA's Roman Space Telescope Could Detect Dozens of Isolated Neutron Stars
Astronomers Solve 50-Year Mystery of Gamma-Cas's Unusual X-Rays
NASA's Roman Telescope Could Directly Measure Mass of Isolated Neutron Stars
Data from NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has revealed gamma-ray emissions from a rare, exceptionally bright supernova. Researchers suggest the explosion's power likely came from a newborn, supermagnetized neutron star called a magnetar. The findings, published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, provide a new model for understanding these extreme cosmic events.
Facts First
- Fermi's Large Area Telescope detected gamma rays from supernova SN 2017egm between July and October 2017.
- The supernova's extreme brightness likely came from a magnetar, a neutron star with a magnetic field trillions of times stronger than a refrigerator magnet.
- A new model traces how light and particles from a newborn magnetar interact with supernova debris to produce gamma rays.
- Superluminous supernovae produce at least 10 times more light than typical core-collapse events, with nearly 400 identified in the last 20 years.
- The Cerenkov Telescope Array Observatory could potentially detect similar events out to about 500 million light-years.
What Happened
NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope detected gamma-ray emissions from a rare, superluminous supernova identified as SN 2017egm. The supernova, discovered by the European Space Agency's Gaia mission in May 2017, occurred in the galaxy NGC 3191, located about 440 million light-years away. Fermi's Large Area Telescope observed the gamma rays between 43 and 155 days after the supernova's discovery. Researchers concluded the explosion's extraordinary power likely originated from a newborn magnetar, a type of neutron star with an immensely powerful magnetic field.
Why this Matters to You
This discovery advances our fundamental understanding of how stars die and how the universe creates some of its most extreme objects. While this event occurred far beyond our galaxy, the science of magnetars and gamma-ray emissions could one day inform our knowledge of cosmic phenomena that affect Earth's space environment. For astronomers and astrophysicists, the findings provide a crucial observational link to theoretical models of stellar explosions.
What's Next
The published model for how a magnetar powers a supernova's light will guide future observations of similar events. The upcoming Cerenkov Telescope Array Observatory could potentially detect a similar supernova out to about 500 million light-years, expanding our ability to study these rare explosions.