We watched a red supergiant explode to ordinary type II supernova

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the observation of the red supergiant star SN 2020tlf in the NGC 5731 galaxy and its subsequent explosion into a type II supernova. Participants explore the implications of this event for understanding the behavior of massive stars prior to their death, as well as sharing related media and commentary.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants highlight the significance of the observations made 130 days prior to the explosion, suggesting it represents a breakthrough in understanding massive stars' final moments.
  • One participant shares a time-lapse video of the supernova event, indicating interest in visual representations of the phenomenon.
  • Another participant questions the specifics of the star's behavior before the explosion, noting a lack of detailed information beyond "brought radiation."
  • There is a light-hearted comment referencing another astronomical event, indicating a mix of topics and potential distractions in the discussion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express curiosity and interest in the event, but there is no consensus on the specifics of the star's behavior prior to the explosion, with some questions remaining unanswered.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about the nature of the observations and the terminology used (e.g., "brought radiation") are not fully defined, leaving room for interpretation and further inquiry.

Tom.G
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First suspicious activity of SN 2020tlf (in the NGC 5731 galaxy) was noted 130 days prior, which prompted astronomers to keep an eye on it.

"This is a breakthrough in our understanding of what massive stars do moments before they die," said lead study author Wynn Jacobson-Galán, a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow at University of California, Berkeley, in a statement.

Popular version:
https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/06/world/red-supergiant-star-supernova-scn/index.html

Technical report in "The Astrophysical Journal":
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/ac3f3a

EDIT: See more in post #3 below.

Cheers,
Tom
 
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HA HA this was almost eclipsed by that old prima donna JST. We have to be thankful that someone was still running the shop whilst we were all focussed on L2.
 
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Wonder what exactly it was doing before the superno a. All i read was "broght radiation".