Question

What kinds of stars would you, as an astronomer sometime in the future, monitor if you wished to observe a supernova explosion from its very beginning?

Which, if any, of these stars are possible supernova candidates? Explain. Compare your results with at least two of your classmates. Did the spectral-type of the stars they identified differ from yours? Why?

Remember that there are two types of supernova, Type IA and Type II. Choose one of these types for this activity. What is the difference between the types? What are the conditions necessary for each to happen? The answers to these questions should guide you on your search for candidate stars.

Answer 1

During the last stage interstellar evolution of massive stars which results in sudden explosion of the star known as supernova explosion. It happens when there is change in the core or center of star.

Type I Supernova can happen in binary star system when two of the stars orbit at the same point in which one of the stars which is carbon oxygen white dwarf it steals too much of matter from its companion star so that at a point it explodes. The sudden explosion causes the appearance of a temporary new bright in the star for a short period of time until it fades. This is not a star but the brilliant light of supernova explosion which can radiate more energy than the sun during its entire lifetime. These supernova occur once in 50 years in the galaxies the size of the milky way.

Type II Supernova occurs in a single star at the last stage of its lifestars. When the star run out of nuclear fuel and some of its flows into into core due to which the core becomes so heavy. At a point this star cannot hold its own gravitational force and collapse. The core collapse result in giant supernova explosion.

Possible candidates of supenova explosion

The stars which are at their last stage i.e white dwarfs. These stars are dense stars and have run out of fuel. There is no nuclear fusion reaction taking place in them where mass is converted into energy. Their luminosity is faint and comes from emitting stored thermal energy in them. The nearest example of white dwarf is Sirius B which is about 8.6 light years from earth and it is the component of the Sirius binary system. These are the 8 white dwarfs nearest to the sun. Other example of white star is Procynon which is the eighth brightest star in the night sky and has a binary star system and is at the distance of about 11.46 light years from the earth. These can be the possible supernova in future

Another condition the star should be massive and their mass should be at least 10 solar masses in theri final stages of evolution. This includes the giant Wolf Rayet star.