Mystery of dazzling supernova solved

Astronomers have solved the mystery of a super luminous supernova, according to the American Association for the Advancement of Science. They contend that the supernova, called PS1-10afx, is extremely bright because a lens in the sky magnified its light.

“PS1-10afx is like nothing we have seen before,” noted senior author Robert Quimby of the University of Tokyo’s Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe.

According to Georgia State University, a supernova is an explosion of a massive super giant star. It may shine with the luminosity of 10 billions suns and its total energy output may be as much as the total output of the sun during its 10 billion year lifetime.

The discovery of PS1-10afx led to two competing theories: Some said that the supernova was a new kind of extremely bright supernova, while others said it was a normal Type Ia supernovae magnified by a lens in close proximity. NOVA notes that Type Ia supernovae originate in binary star systems.

While PS1-10afx faded away before astronomers could use it, they believe that future lensed supernova events may offer an opportunity to measure expansion in the universe.

Click here to read more. Also find out how this discovery helps settle an important controversy in astronomy.