New research suggests that a lopsided star explosion that was observed from Earth some 27 years back can provide clues to astrophysicists about the mysterious formations of black holes. This new study can also provide answers as why some supernovae collapse into neutron stars while others turn into black holes.

Like Us on Facebook

This supernova is called 1987A which exploded some 168,000 years ago however, the light from this supergiant stellar explosion did not arrive to Earth until 1987. This also marks the first relatively nearby supernova explosion seen from Earth in over centuries and also the first neutrino source ever detected by astronomers apart from our sun.

During this supernova explosion, this event emitted subatomic particles that possess almost non existent mass that were generated by massive quantities from a Type 2 supernova, according to astronomers. In this new study, the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) observations present evidence of a radioactive type of titanium called titanium-44.

Apparently, this isotope derived from the metal element is commonly produced during Type 2 supernovae explosions when massive stars run out of fuel and collapse.

According to Fiona Harrison from the NuSTAR project at The California Institute of Technology, this titanium-44 is quite unstable. When it decays and transforms into calcium, it releases gamma rays that possess a specific energy that NuSTAR can detect. 

This energy was detected via these Doppler shifts when observed with light, as this light velocity between the moving intergalactic objects between this space and our planet changes, becoming dimmer than usual. 

However, this material from the titanium-44 of the supernova explosion are seen to be moving away from Earth meaning this can support the theory that the core of stars are forced to be driven away in opposite directions during these explosions that results in a lopsided distribution of material into intergalactic space. 

Computer simulation models predicted that massive stellar cores can determine the shape of an almost perfect sphere to chaotic, violent gases being expelled out into space. This process is apparently caused by neutrinos getting absorbed by the core of the star explosion that triggers the formation of  supernovae.

This study is published in the journal, Science. 

TagsNASA, NuStar, lopsided supernova, supernova explosion, Black Holes