Scientists Capture First Close-Up Image of a Star Outside the Milky Way Groundbreaking Achievement Reveals Dying Red Supergiant WOH G64
- By HUMAN ONLINE --
- 22 Nov 2024 --
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- Ar-Riyad - Saudi Arabia
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WOH G64, classified as a red supergiant, is about 2,000 times larger than the Sun and represents the largest type of star in the universe. As these stars near their explosive deaths, they expand significantly, making them fascinating subjects for astronomical study.
The image was obtained by a team of researchers using a cutting-edge instrument at the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope in Chile. Keiichi Ohnaka, an astrophysicist at Andres Bello National University in Chile, expressed excitement over the achievement, stating, "For the first time, we have succeeded in taking a zoomed-in image of a dying star."
The captured image displays a bright, albeit blurry, yellow star encased in an oval outline. Ohnaka noted the discovery of an "egg-shaped cocoon" surrounding the star, which may be associated with the significant ejection of material preceding a potential supernova explosion.
The research team has been monitoring WOH G64 for several years. In 2005 and 2007, they employed the Very Large Telescope's interferometer, which combines light from two telescopes, to gather preliminary data about the star. However, obtaining a clear image remained elusive until the recent introduction of GRAVITY, a new instrument that integrates light from four telescopes.
Upon analyzing their observations, the astronomers were surprised to find that WOH G64 had dimmed over the past decade, indicating changes in the star's behavior as it approaches the end of its life cycle.
This groundbreaking image and the accompanying research offer invaluable insights into the life and death of massive stars, enhancing our understanding of stellar evolution and the dynamics of the universe.
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