RAS/Cardiff: Cosmic "Dust Factory" - How Stars Are Born

[bystander]

Cosmic "Dust Factory" Reveals Clues to How Stars Are Born
Royal Astronomical Society | Cardiff University | 2017 Jul 10

[c][attachment=0]SN1987A_Illustration_FINAL-1[1].jpg[/attachment][/c][hr][/hr]

A group of scientists led by researchers at Cardiff University have discovered a rich inventory of molecules at the centre of an exploded star for the very first time.

Two previously undetected molecules, formylium (HCO+) and sulphur monoxide (SO), were found in the cooling aftermath of Supernova 1987A, located 163,000 light-years away in a nearby neighbour of our own Milky Way galaxy. The explosion was originally witnessed in February 1987, hence its name.

These newly identified molecules were accompanied by previously detected compounds such as carbon monoxide (CO) and silicon oxide (SiO). The researchers estimate that about 1 in 1,000 silicon atoms from the exploded star can be found in SiO molecules and only a few out of every million carbon atoms are in HCO+ molecules.

It was previously thought that the massive explosions of supernovae would completely destroy any molecules and dust that may have been already present.

However, the detection of these unexpected molecules suggests that the explosive death of stars could lead to clouds of molecules and dust at extremely cold temperatures, which are similar conditions to those seen in a stellar nursery where stars are born. ...

In an accompanying paper, a second research team have used ALMA’s data to create the first 3D model of Supernova 1987A, revealing important insights into the original star itself and the way supernovae create the basic building blocks of planets. ...

ALMA Spectral Survey of Supernova 1987A -- Molecular Inventory,
Chemistry, Dynamics and Explosive Nucleosynthesis - M. Matsuura et al

• Monthly Notices of the RAS 469(3):3347 (Aug 2017) DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stx830
  arXiv.org > astro-ph > arXiv:1704.02324 > 07 Apr 2017

[bystander]

Heart of an Exploded Star Observed in 3-D
ALMA | NRAO | ESO | NAOJ | 2017 Jul 10

Deep inside the remains of an exploded star lies a twisted knot of newly minted molecules and dust. Using ALMA, astronomers mapped the location of these new molecules to create a high-resolution 3-D image of this “dust factory,” providing new insights into the relationship between a young supernova remnant and its galaxy.

[img3="Remnant of Supernova 1987A as seen by ALMA. Purple area indicates
emission from SiO molecules. Yellow area is emission from CO molecules.
The blue ring is Hubble data that has been artificially expanded into 3-D.
Credit: ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO); R. Indebetouw; NASA/ESA Hubble"]https://public.nrao.edu/wp-content/uplo ... 70x600.jpg[/img3][hr][/hr]

Supernovas -- the violent endings of the brief yet brilliant lives of massive stars -- are among the most cataclysmic events in the cosmos. Though supernovas mark the death of stars, they also trigger the birth of new elements and the formation of new molecules.

In February of 1987, astronomers witnessed one of these events unfold inside the Large Magellanic Cloud, a tiny dwarf galaxy located approximately 160,000 light-years from Earth.

Over the next 30 years, observations of the remnant of that explosion revealed never-before-seen details about the death of stars and how atoms created in those stars -- like carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen -- spill out into space and combine to form new molecules and dust. These microscopic particles may eventually find their way into future generations of stars and planets.

Recently, astronomers used the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) to probe the heart of this supernova, named SN 1987A. ALMA’s ability to see remarkably fine details allowed the researchers to produce an intricate 3-D rendering of newly formed molecules inside the supernova remnant. ...

The researchers also discovered a variety of previously undetected molecules in the remnant. ...

Very Deep Inside the SN 1987A Core Ejecta: Molecular Structures Seen in 3D - F. J. Abellán et al

• Astrophysical Journal Letters 842(2):L24 (2017 Jun 20) DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/aa784c
  arXiv.org > astro-ph > arXiv:1706.04675 > 14 Jun 2017

[neufer]

Heart of an Exploded Star Observed in 3-D
ALMA | NRAO | ESO | NAOJ | 2017 Jul 10

In February of 1987, astronomers witnessed one of these events unfold inside
the Large Magellanic Cloud, a tiny dwarf galaxy located approximately 160,000 light-years from Earth.

• "the Large Magellanic Cloud, a tiny dwarf galaxy"

<<A dwarf galaxy is a small galaxy composed of about 100 million up to several billion stars, a small number compared to the Milky Way's 200–400 billion stars. The Large Magellanic Cloud, which closely orbits the Milky Way and contains over 30 billion stars, is sometimes classified as a dwarf galaxy; others consider it a full-fledged galaxy.>>

fledged (adj.) "furnished with feathers,"

• 1570s (in full-fledged), thus "developed, matured, able to fly;"