Astronomers observe supernova explosion forge a highly magnetic star

space.com

Astronomers have directly observed the birth of a magnetar, a neutron star with an incredibly strong magnetic field, linked to a superluminous supernova. This observation confirms a long-held theory that these powerful stellar explosions are powered by the formation of magnetars, which possess magnetic fields trillions of times stronger than Earth's. The event, observed in supernova SN 2024afav, provided unique light curve "chirps" that required general relativity to explain, marking a significant discovery in astrophysics.


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