NASA's Hubble telescope captures beautiful supernova in Gemini constellation

A brilliant stellar explosion has been captured by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. The supernova, a bright blue dot, was spotted in the distant galaxy’s outer disk. Located in the Gemini constellation, it lies about 600 million light-years away.

Supernova Helps Astronomers Measure Distances
The supernova, named SN 2022aajn, is a Type Ia explosion. These events occur when a dead star’s core violently erupts. Scientists use them to measure cosmic distances because they have a consistent brightness. By comparing their observed and actual brightness, astronomers calculate their distance. However, space dust often affects these measurements.

Hubble Space Telescope image features a supernova in the constellation Gemini. (Image: NASA)

Hubble’s Contribution to Supernova Research
Hubble is observing 100 Type Ia supernovae in seven wavelengths. Its data helps researchers refine distance calculations across the universe. The image of SN 2022aajn was taken in infrared light. This method allows scientists to analyse how dust affects the explosion’s brightness. The research will enhance how distances are measured across galaxies.