Hubble Pinpoints Doomed Star that Explodes as Supernova
Amidst the glitter of billions of stars in the majestic spiral galaxy called the Whirlpool (M51), a massive star abruptly ends its life in a brilliant flash of light. NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope snapped images of the exploding star, called supernova (SN) 2005cs, 12 days after its discovery. Astronomers then compared those photos with Hubble images of the same region before the supernova blast to pinpoint the progenitor star (the star that exploded).
Credit:
About the Image
NASA press release
NASA caption
NASA caption
| Id: | opo0521a |
| Type: | Collage |
| Release date: | 28 July 2005, 20:00 |
| Size: | 3000 x 2400 px |
About the Object
| Name: | IRAS F13277+4727, M 51, Messier 51, NGC 5195, Whirlpool Galaxy |
| Type: | • Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Spiral • Stars Images/Videos • Galaxies Images/Videos |
| Distance: | 25 million light years |
Colours & filters
| Band | Wavelength | Telescope |
| Infrared Near-IR |
Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 | |
| Ultraviolet | Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 | |
| Optical B |
435 nm | Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 |
| Optical V |
555 nm | Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 |
| Optical (H-alpha + NII) |
658 nm | Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 |
| Infrared I |
814 nm | Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 |
