Dr Ashley J Ruiter (she/her)Sep 1, 2023
CosmicRami

Just catching up on the JWST SN1987A image!

It’s glorious!

In 1987, astronomers around the world witnessed a first in modern times - a nearby supernova.

One of the biggest mysteries to me is why we haven’t seen the neutron star or pulsar that formed during the event.

Wrote about this for #SpaceAustralia … you can read the feature article here: https://www.spaceaustralia.com/feature/did-1987-supernova-produce-pulsar

Also …. hurry up pulsar!

#Astrodon #Astronomy #Pulsar #Supernova

Did the 1987 Supernova Produce A Pulsar? | Spaceaustralia

35 years ago, a bright new star appeared in a relatively close southern galaxy. A massive star had died in a spectacular supernova, providing astronomers with the first opportunity in about 400 years to study a relatively nearby event. But to this day, a mystery still remains – what did the supernova leave behind?

Sep 1, 2023 at 1:32amWeb
Show threadCosmicRamiSep 1, 2023

link to the article with downloadable files, info and expanded image credits:

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2023/webb-reveals-new-structures-within-iconic-supernova

Webb Reveals New Structures Within Iconic Supernova

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has begun the study of one of the most renowned supernovae, SN 1987A (Supernova 1987A). Located 168,000 light-years away in the Large Magellanic Cloud, SN 1987A has been a target of intense observations at wavelengths ranging from gamma rays to radio for nearly 40 years, since its discovery in February of 1987.

NASA
Show threadshom 🐧📷🤿🏔️🪚✊🏽Sep 1, 2023
@CosmicRami be closer, hurry up, but point away!
Show threadBlippy the Wonder Slug (MOVED)Sep 1, 2023

@CosmicRami @Catawu
As far as the remains of the imploded core goes, I imagine it's there, but "lost in the clutter," and we won't be able to "see it" until the debris "blows away" some more, maybe in another 50 - 250 years? (My math is questionable, at best)

If it's a brown dwarf, instead of a pulsar, neutron star, singularity, etc, we may never really "see it."

It COULD just be a lump of impure iron slowly cooling...

At least, that's my theory.

Show threadCat WestSep 1, 2023
@BlippyTheWonderSlug @CosmicRami as far as I can see, it’s interesting and until we can actually go see for ourselves, as good as any other theory out there.
Show threadUrwumpeSep 3, 2023
@CosmicRami also, there is always the more fun option: Our hypothesis are all wrong and we still need to learn a lot about the dynamic events of a core collapse. And there is simply no neutron star left to be found. Like what happens, if a fast rotating core fragments into smaller pieces? It seems impossible. But do we really know?