The Zwicky Transient Facility observed over 3,500 “standard candle” supernova explosions

The Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) collaboration has announced a major milestone in the study of cosmic expansion and supernova physics with the release of over 20 scientific publications in a special issue of the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.

Astronomers witness a fast and bright outburst as a small black hole destroys star

Astronomers have used the telescopes at the Canary Islands Observatories on La Palma, including the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC) and the Nordic Optical Telescope (NOT), to study the evolution of an exceptionally fast and bright cosmic outburst in a small galaxy located 500 million light years away. The outburst, identified as CSS161010, reached its brightest peak in just 4 days and declined to half of this brightness in only 2.5 days, making its discovery and subsequent observations of its evolution particularly challenging

Swedish scientists engaged in finding record numbers of exploding stars

A small telescope on a mountain in California has enabled collecting over 10 000 supernovae over the past 7 years. A large team of international scientists – including astronomers in Stockholm– has made this possible.

Ragnhild Lunnan new member of the Young Academy of Sweden

Exploding star made the Hubble telescope turn

In the latest issue of the journal Nature, researchers from Stockholm University participate in a study of a supernova explosion where the astronomers made the Hubble telescope turn and look in a different direction than planned. The ultraviolet light from the explosion shows that the exploding red giant star was embedded in gas that puffed out in the years before the final bang.

James Webb telescope detects traces of neutron star in iconic supernova

Scientists can finally show that a neutron star formed from our most well-studied supernova, SN 1987A. The breakthrough was made possible thanks to the James Webb telescope.

Exploding star makes a black hole and eats companion

A supernova explosion powered by a black hole consuming its binary companion. This is an interpretation forwarded in the latest issue of the journal Nature, where astronomers from Stockholm University participate in a study of a recent cosmic explosion.

Fast flickering black hole caught in breakout

In the latest issue of the journal Nature, astronomers from Stockholm University participate in a study of an optical transient displaying fast flickering of light. A small black hole in a distant galaxy could lie behind the phenomenon.

Radio signal reveals supernova origin

In the latest issue of the journal Nature, astronomers from Stockholm University reveal the origin of a thermonuclear supernova explosion. Strong emission lines of helium and the first detection of such a supernova in radio waves show that the exploding white dwarf star had a helium-rich companion.