SN 1994D facts for kids
Quick facts for kids SN 1994D |
|
|---|---|
SN 1994D (bottom left) next to NGC 4526.
|
|
| Data | |
| Supernova type | IA |
| Host galaxy | NGC 4526 |
| Constellation | Virgo |
| Discovery date | March 7, 1994 |
| Peak magnitude (V) | +15.2 |
| Distance | 50 million ly away |
SN 1994D was a very powerful star explosion called a supernova. It happened in 1994 near a galaxy named NGC 4526. This amazing event was seen by astronomers using a special telescope.
Contents
What is a Supernova?
A supernova is one of the biggest explosions in space! It happens when a star reaches the end of its life. For a short time, a supernova can shine brighter than an entire galaxy.
Type IA Supernovas
SN 1994D was a special kind of supernova called a Type IA. These happen when a small, dense star, called a white dwarf, pulls too much material from another star nearby. When the white dwarf gets too heavy, it explodes! This explosion is always about the same brightness, which helps scientists measure how far away galaxies are.
How Was SN 1994D Discovered?
SN 1994D was first spotted on March 7, 1994. A team of astronomers found it. Their names were Treffers, Filippenko, Van Dyk, and Richmond. They used a telescope at an observatory (a place where telescopes are kept) at San Francisco State University. Imagine being the first to see such a huge explosion in space!
Where Can We Find SN 1994D?
SN 1994D exploded near the NGC 4526 galaxy. This galaxy is part of a group of stars and galaxies in the sky called the Virgo constellation. The Virgo constellation is a large area of the night sky that looks like a "V" shape.
How Far Away Was It?
This supernova was incredibly far away, about 50 million light-years from Earth. A light-year is the distance light travels in one year. Since light is super fast, 50 million light-years is an enormous distance! This means the light from SN 1994D started its journey 50 million years ago, long before humans were around.
