Date Time A New Type of Supernova Illuminates an Old One Las Cumbres Observatory and Hubble Space Telescope color composite of the electron-capture supernova 2018zd (the large white dot on the right) and the host starburst galaxy NGC 2146 (towards the left). (Credit: NASA/STScI/J. DePasquale, Las Cumbres Observatory) A worldwide team of astronomers has discovered evidence for a new type of stellar explosion — an electron-capture supernova. While this type has been theorized for over 40 years, this is the first observed example. These findings provide clues to the precursor of the Crab Nebula, a supernova observed by cultures all over the world in 1054.