Department of Astronomy
Department of Astronomy
Astronomer Mojgan Aghakhanloo, a VITA-Origins Fellow at UVA

Astronomers Solve the Mystery of ‘The Supernova Impostor’

Astronomer Mojgan Aghakhanloo, a VITA-Origins Fellow at UVA

For more than a decade, a massive star in a distant galaxy has been putting on a spectacular show, repeatedly erupting as if it were about to explode and die – an act that has earned it the nickname “supernova impostor.” Now, astronomers have discovered what may be driving those outbursts: a hidden companion, either a neutron star or a black hole, that’s pulling material away from the star.