Scientists have observed the inner structure of a dying star for the first time, offering a rare peek into stellar evolution. A supernova explosion has revealed the star’s insides, allowing researchers to confirm long-held theories about how large stars appear near the end of their lives.
The star in question, 2021yfj, is located in our Milky Way galaxy and has shed its outer layers of hydrogen and helium. However, it’s surprising that the dense inner layers of silicon and sulfur have also been stripped away during the explosion.
“We’ve never observed a star that was stripped to this amount,” said Steve Schulze from Northwestern University. The discovery lends evidence to theories about stellar structure, with lighter elements on the outside and heavier ones near the core.
The whittled-down star may provide clues about its final stages of life, including whether it lost its layers violently or through interaction with a twin star. Future research will aim to uncover more information about this rare event.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/supernova-explosion-dying-star-9924d1cbfb8d8e5d9548defe38d7105a