Discover new forms of supernovae

American astronomers say it has discovered a new form of supernova that is not the same as the previous two forms of this epic cosmic phenomenon.

Previously, supernovae were classified into cores or Type Ia. Now, the new The Astrophysical Journal research has identified a new form of supernova, called Type Iax.

Accordingly, the first type of supernova (ie, the core collapse) is the explosion of stars 10 to 100 times greater than our Sun.

Type Iax supernova example - (Photo: The Space Reporter)

In Type Ia form, the star becomes unstable and eventually the star is swallowed up in a terrible thermonuclear explosion reaction, according to the University of Tennessee (USA).

Meanwhile, Type Iax supernova is weaker than Type Ia; and both are derived from white dwarf explosions, Type Iax supernovae may not destroy the entire star.

According to lead researcher Ryan Foley, at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (USA), Type Iax supernovae are 'a stunted form of supernova'.

Astronomers have found 25 examples for Type Iax. They argue that Type Iax comes from young star systems, because no supernova explosion of this type was discovered in elliptical galaxies, which contain all the old stars.

They concluded that Type Iax supernovae came from a binary star system, which contained a white dwarf and its companion lost the outer hydrogen layer, allowing helium to dominate. The white dwarf collects helium from its companion.