Hubble Reveals Surviving Companion Star in Aftermath of Titanic Supernova Explosion

Image Credit:phys [{ "selector": ".xgnbb-a", "duration": "1000ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateY(calc(600px - 397px))", "opacity": 1}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateY(0)", "opacity": 1} ] }, { "selector": ".iianj-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateX(-136.35612535612518px)", "opacity": 1}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": 1} ] }]

Supernova 2013ge is depicted in this artist's illustration, together with its companion star in the lower right

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The supernova's blast wave hits the companion star, yet it is not destroyed

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Astronomers noticed the supernova's ultraviolet (UV) radiation diminishing over time, revealing a nearby second source of UV light that remained brilliant

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According to the idea, the two enormous stars formed a binary pair and the current survivor sucked out its partner's outer hydrogen gas shell before exploding

Image Credit:spacechannel [{ "selector": ".puzon-a", "duration": "1000ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateY(calc(600px - 391px))", "opacity": 1}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateY(0)", "opacity": 1} ] }, { "selector": ".xckql-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateX(-137.4491534632606px)", "opacity": 1}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": 1} ] }]

The companion star will eventually go supernova as well. NASA, ESA, and Leah Hustak (STScI)

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The discovery helps explain the puzzle of hydrogen loss pre-supernova, and supports the theory that most massive stars are paired.

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What happened to the hydrogen?

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Hubble's discovery of a surviving companion star on the scene of supernova 2013ge backs up theories that companion stars are to blame

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syphoning away their companions' outer shells before death

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The find also supports the hypothesis that the majority of large stars begin and evolve as binary systems

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It could also be a prelude to another cosmic drama: the surviving, huge companion star will ultimately blow supernova

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