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Astronomers Unmask a Supernova Impostor
Confirmed
In Short: A distant star has puzzled astronomers for a decade, leading them to believe it was about to explode. New research suggests it is not a supernova, challenging previous assumptions.
Astronomers have been observing a distant star for over a decade, which they initially believed would soon explode as a supernova. However, recent research indicates that this star, known as AT 2016blu, is not about to undergo a supernova explosion, contrary to earlier predictions.
The star exhibits periodic outbursts that resemble those of supernovae, leading astronomers to think that an explosion was imminent. However, studies suggest that not every supernova experiences pre-explosion eruptions, and this star is now known to be a 'supernova impostor.
A team of astronomers, including multiple researchers from various telescopes and over 30 amateur astronomers, contributed to this new understanding. Their findings challenge the standard cosmological model, which relies on Type Ia supernovae to measure cosmic distances.
According to Ryan Camilleri, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Queensland, their project sets a new benchmark in supernova cosmology, providing the clearest picture yet of the expansion of the universe. This work combines data from 2,884 Type Ia supernovae with cosmic microwave background and galaxy-mapping data, deepening the cracks in the standard cosmological constant model.
What's confirmed
- Astronomers have been observing a distant star for over a decade, which they initially believed would soon explode as a supernova. However, recent research indicates that this star, known as AT 2016blu, is not about to undergo a supernova explosion, contrary to earlier predictions.
- The star exhibits periodic outbursts that resemble those of supernovae, leading astronomers to think that an explosion was imminent. However, studies suggest that not every supernova experiences pre-explosion eruptions, and this star is now known to be a 'supernova impostor.
- A team of astronomers, including multiple researchers from various telescopes and over 30 amateur astronomers, contributed to this new understanding. Their findings challenge the standard cosmological model, which relies on Type Ia supernovae to measure cosmic distances.
- According to Ryan Camilleri, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Queensland, their project sets a new benchmark in supernova cosmology, providing the clearest picture yet of the expansion of the universe. This work combines data from 2,884 Type Ia supernovae with cosmic microwave background and galaxy-mapping data, deepening the cracks in the standard cosmological constant model.
What's still developing
- Papers published in 2023 and 2025 also focused on the impostor.
- That research suggested that a binary system was responsible and that no supernova explosion was coming.
- Multiple astronomers at different telescopes helped out, and more than 30 amateur astronomers joined the effort.
- This is an artist’s concept of a Type Ia supernova exploding in the intergalactic space between galaxies within a galactic cluster.
- Supernovae Unite: Host-Galaxy Mass Measurements of Type Ia Supernovae and Their Impact on Cosmology.
- Supernovae Unite: Combining Pantheon+ and DES-SN5YR.