News From the Field
Caltech astronomers observe a supernova colliding with its companion star
May 20, 2015
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On May 3, 2014, Caltech astronomers working on a robotic observing system known as the intermediate Palomar Transient Factory discovered a Type Ia supernova--supernova known as "standardizable candles" because they allow astronomers to gauge cosmic distances--located 300 million light-years away. The data collected offer unprecedented insight into the origin of this type of supernovae, and suggest the possibility that it actually comes in two distinct varieties.Full StorySource
California Institute of Technology
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