Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
A bright blue dot in Hubble’s latest image marks SN 2022aajn, a supernova in a galaxy 600 million light-years away in the constellation Gemini.
Credit: NASA, ESA
Classified as Type Ia, this supernova is caused by a dead star’s core reigniting and detonating, making it a critical find for cosmic measurements.
Representative pic/NASA
Type Ia supernovae are invaluable because of their consistent brightness, allowing scientists to measure the distances of far-off galaxies accurately.
Representative pic/NASA
Cosmic dust complicates measurements by making supernovae appear fainter and redder, mimicking the effects of distance, and creating room for error.
Hubble’s infrared observations bypass much of the cosmic dust, revealing clearer measurements and enhancing the accuracy of distance calculations.
Researchers are studying 100 Type Ia supernovae across seven wavelength bands, from ultraviolet to near-infrared, to refine these vital cosmic tools.
Representative pic/NASA
Measuring the distances of these supernovae allows astronomers to pinpoint the distances of host galaxies, providing a map of the expanding universe.
These studies contribute to a deeper understanding of how the universe is expanding, offering insights into the mysterious forces driving it.
The ongoing work with SN 2022aajn highlights Hubble’s role in unraveling cosmic mysteries and improving the tools for understanding intergalactic distances.