How bright can a supernova be?
How bright can a supernova be?
Supernovae are so intrinsically bright that their magnitude ratings go all the way to an absolute magnitude of -19. This means a supernova which is 10 parsecs away would be 1.5*107 times brighter than Sirius, the brightest star in the nighttime sky. To find out why look here.
What is the typical maximum brightness of a Type Ia supernova?
-19.5
They are the brightest of all supernovae with an absolute magnitude of MB ~ -19.5 at maximum light, occur in all galaxy types, and are characterised by a silicon absorption feature (rest wavelength = 6355 angstroms) in their maximum light spectra.
Can a supernova be brighter than a galaxy?
The peak optical luminosity of a supernova can be comparable to that of an entire galaxy before fading over several weeks or months. Supernovae are more energetic than novae.
Is supernova a dying star?
A supernova is a massive explosion of a dying star. The event occurs during the last evolutionary stages of a massive star, which is dying. The explosions are extremely bright and powerful. The star, after explosion, turns into a neutron star or a black hole, or is completely destroyed.
Can a supernova leave behind a white dwarf?
The most massive stars, with eight times the mass of the sun or more, will never become white dwarfs. Instead, at the end of their lives, they will explode in a violent supernova, leaving behind a neutron star or black hole. They simply burn through all of their hydrogen, ending the process as a dim white dwarf.
Can a white dwarf go supernova?
When a white dwarf star explodes as a supernova, it may detonate like a nuclear weapon on Earth, a new study finds. White dwarfs are the dim, fading, Earth-size cores of dead stars that are left behind after average-size stars have exhausted their fuel and shed their outer layers.
How is the brightness of a supernova determined?
As you can see from the graph, supernovae grow brighter until they reach a maximum brightness and then grow fainter. In absolute magnitudes, this brightness is about -19, however you will notice that they appear much dimmer because the supernovae are so far away.
What are the spectra of a Type Ia supernova?
The spectra of a Type Ia supernova contain a distinct silicon absorption line around 6150 Å (vertical orange line as seen in the figure) ; this line is unique among Type I supernovae and so defines the subgroup-a of the Type I supernovae.
What is the energy output of a supernova remnant?
Crab supernova remnant A supernova is an explosion of a massive supergiant star. It may shine with the brightness of 10 billion suns! The total energy output may be 1044joules, as much as the total output of the sun during its 10 billion year lifetime. The likely scenario is that fusionproceeds to build up a core of iron.
What kind of supernova has a helium line?
Type Ib and Type Ic are characterized by the presence or absence of a helium line around 5876 Å (vertical purple. The light curves among the different Type I supernovae are much more homogeneous than the light curves among Type II supernovae.
