New Discovery challenges star theory
In a paper entitled A Planetary Nebula around Nova V458 Vul Undergoing Flash Ionization, which will be published in Astrophysical Journal Letters on Thursday 20 November, researchers from the University of Hertfordshire are part of a team which has revealed the phenomenon of a planetary nebula around a nova, which was only ever known once before.
A planetary nebula is an astronomical object consisting of a glowing shell of gas and plasma formed by many stars as they approach the end of their lives, while a nova is a cataclysmic nuclear explosion caused by the accretion of hydrogen onto the surface of a nearly-dead white dwarf star in a close binary.
The two are not expected to be seen together because the planetary nebula should fade from sight before enough hydrogen fuel accumulates for the nova explosion, posing a problem for how this system has come to be.
According to Professor Janet Drew, this is the first instance of a planetary nebula linked to a nova since 1901, which IPHAS – the survey of the Northern Galactic Plane using the 2.5-metre Isaac Newton Telescope, led by the University of Hertfordshire – has been able to identify in images obtained before the nova exploded in August 2007. Uniquely, this has made it possible to follow the impact of the nova brightening on matter closely enshrouding it in real time.
“It is the first time that we can use observations of the ionising effect of the hugely brightened nova on the gas in its immediate vicinity to determine the distance to the nova,” said Professor Drew. “Distances to novae are usually incredibly difficult to pin down. This nova system looks to be very distant and very massive, which makes it highly likely to go supernova one day.”
Other partners in this research are: R. Wesson, M. Barlow (UCL), R. Napiwotzki (UoH), R. Corradi (IAC, Spain), P. Groot (Nijmegen, Netherlands), C. Knigge (Southampton), D. Steeghs, B. Gaensicke (Warwick), and others
Media Contact
More Information:
http://www.herts.ac.ukAll latest news from the category: Physics and Astronomy
This area deals with the fundamental laws and building blocks of nature and how they interact, the properties and the behavior of matter, and research into space and time and their structures.
innovations-report provides in-depth reports and articles on subjects such as astrophysics, laser technologies, nuclear, quantum, particle and solid-state physics, nanotechnologies, planetary research and findings (Mars, Venus) and developments related to the Hubble Telescope.
Newest articles
High-energy-density aqueous battery based on halogen multi-electron transfer
Traditional non-aqueous lithium-ion batteries have a high energy density, but their safety is compromised due to the flammable organic electrolytes they utilize. Aqueous batteries use water as the solvent for…
First-ever combined heart pump and pig kidney transplant
…gives new hope to patient with terminal illness. Surgeons at NYU Langone Health performed the first-ever combined mechanical heart pump and gene-edited pig kidney transplant surgery in a 54-year-old woman…
Biophysics: Testing how well biomarkers work
LMU researchers have developed a method to determine how reliably target proteins can be labeled using super-resolution fluorescence microscopy. Modern microscopy techniques make it possible to examine the inner workings…
