SUPERNOVA 3
Running head: SUPERNOVA
Supernova
Student’s Name
Institution Affiliation
Discussion
The largest explosion which takes place in space at the end of a life cycle of a star is known as a supernova. Supernovas are mostly observed in other galaxies (Amos, 2018). There are two major types of supernovas namely, type 1a supernova and type 2 supernova. In type 1a supernova involves the accumulation of matter by a star from a close neighbor till there is a runaway nuclear reaction that explodes while in type 2 supernovas, the nuclear fuel of a star runs out and collapses on its gravity.
The conditions necessary for a type 2 supernova to explode are, it should be at many times more massive in comparison with the sun (Branch & Wheeler, 2017). In addition to that, it runs out of hydrogen and eventually helium fuel just like the sun at its core. Moreover, it will have sufficient pressure and mass to fuse carbon. In type 1 supernova, stars lack a hydrogen signature in the light spectra. Also, they are thought to have originated from white dwarf stars in a proximate binary system.
As an astronomer, the kinds of stars that I would monitor in the future if I want to see a supernova explosion since the beginning are Antares, Spica, Gamma Velorum and Vega (Decourchelle, 2017). From the kinds of stars I have selected, Antares, Spica, and Gamma Velorum is possible supernova candidates since they are all from type 2 supernova and they have at least ten solar masses which are in their last evolution stages. My selection differs from my classmates since they selected their stars from type 1a supernova which are very far from exploding.
Response to Joshua
I agree with you since monitoring stars which fall in the group of a red supergiant stage, in other words, white dwarf stage of their life would simplify my research and limit myself to monitor spectral classes K, D, and M and make sure they fall in the right luminosity range (Vink, 2016,). This will clearly show a situation which is potentially ready for a supernova. Example, with the current star that is observed as supernova candidate, Betelgeuse that sits in Orion’s constellation it’s nearing its end life since it’s in M spectral class. Betelgeuse has an exciting part in it due to its relative closeness to the system hence proving to be always a magnificent sight.
Response to Vincent
It is true that supernova is of two major types which are type 1a supernova and type 2 supernovas. Therefore, Hadar fall in supernova type 2 and their difference is that type 2 supernovas are almost five times less luminous as compared to type 1a (Wilson, 2017). Also, light output in type 1a increases first and then decreases slowly over time. Due to Hagar’s mass which is 14.7 greater than the mass of the sun, fusion process after core collapses will create a mighty explosion. Finally, type 2 supernova stars provide suitable research fields since they cover from the development to the time when the red giant star explodes.
References
Amos, D. (2018). Supernova: A Light on Man. Gatekeeper Press.
Branch, D., & Wheeler, J. C. (2017). Supernova Explosions. Basingstoke, England: Springer.
Decourchelle, A. (2017). Supernova of 1572, Tycho’s Supernova. Handbook of Supernovae, 117-137. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-21846-5_48
Vink, J. (2016). Supernova 1604, Kepler’s Supernova, and Its Remnant. Handbook of Supernovae, 1-22. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-20794-0_49-1
Wilson, K. (2017). A Supernova. Oxford Scholarship Online. doi:10.1093/oso/9780198777199.003.0006