Star that birthed Tycho's supernova wasn't hot and bright
Sept. 26 (UPI) -- An international team of scientists from the United States, Australia and Germany have offered new insights into the origins of Tycho's supernova.Until now, many astronomers assumed Tycho's supernova was formed by the explosion of a white dwarf that had been slowly stealing material from its companion star. But the latest analysis, published this week in the journal Nature Astronomy, suggests otherwise.First observed 445 years ago by the astronomer Tycho Brahe, Tycho's supernova is the most famous example of a Type Ia supernovae, the violent nuclear disruption of a white dwarf.In addition to serving as standard candles for cosmologists, Type Ia supernovae also play an important role in the formation and evolution of galaxies. The exploded shell of gas and dust serves as s...