Exploding white dwarf, 3D simulation
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Exploding white dwarf, 3D simulation
Exploding white dwarf, 3D simulation. Supercomputer model of a white dwarf star exploding 0.9 seconds after ignition. The star surface, coloured green, measures 3, 800 kilometres in diameter. Other colours represent temperature (blue and red are cooler, orange and yellow are hotter). Ignition produces a burning bubble of hot ash that rises rapidly towards the surface. In later sequences, the bubble breaks through the surface of the star and expands as it emerges. It quickly cools and collides at a point opposite to where the bubble first emerged. A white dwarf is a very dense star, roughly the size of the Earth, but with a mass comparable to the Sun. When the white dwarf runs out of fuel it can explode as a Type Ia supernova
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Media ID 6333695
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Astrophysical Astrophysics Star Supercomputer Simulation Supernova White Dwarf
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print showcases a mesmerizing 3D simulation of an exploding white dwarf star, created using a supercomputer model. The image captures the star's surface, beautifully adorned in shades of green and spanning an impressive diameter of 3,800 kilometers. However, it is the colors representing temperature that truly bring this celestial spectacle to life; with cooler regions depicted in blue and red hues, while hotter areas are illustrated through vibrant orange and yellow tones. The simulation begins just 0.9 seconds after ignition when a burning bubble of scorching ash rapidly ascends towards the star's surface. As time progresses, the bubble triumphantly breaches the stellar exterior, expanding dramatically upon emergence. Yet as it does so, its fervor wanes swiftly as it cools down and eventually collides at a point opposite to its initial breakthrough location. White dwarfs are known for their immense density comparable to our Earth but possess a mass similar to that of our Sun. When these extraordinary stars exhaust their fuel reserves entirely, they undergo cataclysmic explosions called Type Ia supernovae - events capable of illuminating vast stretches of space. This awe-inspiring photograph not only offers us a glimpse into the magnificent world of astrophysics but also serves as a reminder of the boundless wonders that lie beyond our planet's boundaries.
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