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Supernova Casts Doubt on "Standard Candle"

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the chandrasekhar's-the-limit dept.

Krishna Dagli writes, "A supernova more than twice as bright as others of its type has been observed, suggesting it arose from a star that managed to grow more massive than theoretically thought possible. The observation suggests that Type 1a supernovae may not be 'standard candles' — all having the same intrinsic luminosity — as previously thought. This could affect their use as probes of dark energy, the mysterious force causing the expansion of the universe to accelerate."

2 of 132 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Canada-France-Hawaii telescope? by $RANDOMLUSER · · Score: 5, Funny

    That's how we Americans do geography. We know where Hawaii is, and we know that Canada is (vaguely) north of us, and France is somewhere in Asia.

    --
    No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism. - Winston Churchill
  2. Re:Oh really... by Lissajous · · Score: 5, Funny
    "twice as bright as others of its type"

    Obviously not a /. reader then. ;)

    I don't get it.