Double detonation: New image shows remains of star destroyed by pair of explosions

# TLDR:

* Astronomers using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) observed supernova remnant SNR 0509-67.5, finding evidence of a star destroyed by two distinct detonations centuries ago.
* This discovery confirms an alternative model for Type Ia supernovae, where a white dwarf undergoes two explosions, a helium blanket detonation followed by a core detonation, before reaching the critical Chandrasekhar mass.
* The distinct fingerprint of this double detonation, visible as two concentric shells of calcium in the supernova remnant, offers crucial insights into the mechanisms of these important cosmic explosions, which are vital for understanding the universe’s expansion.