This week on Radio Astronomy, Erin Boettcher and Zach Pace discuss a supernova that appeared 55 million light years away in the spiral galaxy NGC 5643. A type 1a supernova occurs when a white dwarf star accretes mass from a binary companion star. Learn more here: http://astronomy.com/news/2017/03/supernova-ngc-5643
The Death Throes of Eta Carinae
The Great Eruption of the 1800’s rendered Eta Carinae the second brightest star in our sky. On this episode, Jacqueline and Anna discuss this massive system which is astronomers’ closest view of pre-supernovae star.
Supernova’s Radioactive Iron on Earth and the Moon
Hosts Ben Rosenwasser and Zach Pace talk about the recent discovery of iron-60 on the earth and moon, indicating a recent supernova in our own backyard.