Astrophysicists Astronomers have made unprecedented findings on the nature of supernova 2021yfj. This enormous stellar explosion was located in a region of active star formation about 2.2 billion light years from our planet. The supernova was first detected by the Zwicky Transient Facility in California in September 2021. Due to its various unique characteristics and its current offering of invaluable clues into stellar evolution, it shines bright amongst more than 10,000 known supernovae.
It turns out that a colossal star, more than 100 times the mass of the Sun, detonated the supernova. It was shedding its outer layers in pulses just prior to that fatal detonation. With this event, astronomers were able to observe the inner workings of a dying star as never before. The Keck Observatory in Hawaii captured critical data just after the explosion, revealing a spectrum rich in heavier elements such as silicon, sulfur, and argon, rather than the lighter elements typically found in supernova remnants.
A Cosmic Phenomenon
Supernova 2021yfj has given scientists a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to look straight into a star’s inner layers. Not just any event, this particular event is extremely special. Supernovas usually occur in stars that are at least eight times the mass of our Sun, generating the extreme pressure necessary to develop an iron core. It is this iron excess that eventually sets off the explosion.
Dr. Schulze and their team took advantage of this serendipitous cosmic moment to observe the strange nature of 2021yfj. In so doing, the discoveries proved long-held theories of stellar structure and evolution.
“We’ve always modelled it this way. We’ve had evidence from our understanding of nuclear physics,” – Brad Tucker, an astronomer at the Australian National University.
It offers “crucial proof” that confirms our existing models of how the most massive stars live and explode.
Unprecedented Observations
The new detection of 2021yfj in particular is deeply important. Its short observation window has hampered astronomers’ ability to conduct detailed studies on the comet. Yet the few observations just made in the minutes and hours following its explosion just gave all-important clues.
Dr. Schulze drew attention to the fact that the star’s silicon- and sulfur-rich layer typically rests under other layers. During regular observational conditions, this layer is veiled and unreachable. This year provides a unique opportunity for scientists to study these layers up-close, deepening their understanding of this violent dance of stellar death.
“The silicon- and sulphur-rich layer is buried under many other materials and is therefore inaccessible [by telescopes] under normal circumstances,” – Dr. Schulze.
The ramifications of this finding are huge for astronomers trying to fill in the picture of what happens to massive stars throughout their life cycles.
Future Exploration
Looking to the future, the new Rubin Observatory under construction in Chile is going to transform how we observe supernovae. It will allow astronomers to observe these extraordinary occurrences with greater frequency. Dr. Schulze was excited to share the advancements made in technology for fish monitoring and tagging. With these advancements, scientists can find and observe more supernovas like 2021yfj.
“We are detecting supernovas at an ever-increasing rate due to advances in monitoring the night sky,” – Dr. Schulze.
Those in the know understand that the hard work is really just getting started. Their ultimate goal is to resolve supernova 2021yfj’s effects on the fundamental process of stellar evolution.
“A lot of work remains to be done to fully understand supernova 2021yfj and its implications for the evolution and fate of massive stars,” – Steve Schulze.
