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In a first for astronomy, researchers were able to see in real time the death by explosion of a giant red star using ground-based telescopes. They saw the star, located 120 million light-years away from Earth in the NGC 5731 galaxy, self-destruct in a dramatic event and collapse in a type-2 supernova.
Astronomers observed the red supergiant during its last 130 days leading up to its fatal detonation.
The eruption was detected by the Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor (ASIM) instrument, on board the International Space Station.
The scientists studied the coronal mass ejection of a star, which is also seen in our Sun. This massive ejection of particles triggers solar storms.
An overlooked star explosion far away in space may have given the Earth the gift of precious heavy elements such as gold and platinum, a study claims.