Phys.org reported on Monday that NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory has identified a likely source behind the repeated outbursts of a giant star. The object is described as a "supernova impostor," a star whose eruptions can resemble a supernova explosion. According to Phys.org, the finding points to what may be driving the star's recurring blasts.
The report frames the discovery around the star's pattern of repeated outbursts rather than a single event. That behavior is what separates a supernova impostor from a true supernova in the eyes of astronomers. Phys.org's headline presents Chandra's result as the probable explanation for why the giant star keeps flaring up.
The reporting available does not specify the star's name, its distance, or the mechanism Chandra detected. Those details would be contained in the full article, which was not available at the time of this summary. What is clear from Phys.org's account is that the X-ray observatory's data have given researchers a leading candidate for the cause of the eruptions.
Chandra, one of NASA's flagship observatories, observes the universe in X-rays, a band of light associated with extremely hot gas and energetic processes. Its measurements are frequently used to trace material moving at high speed or heated to extreme temperatures around stars and their remnants.
Watch for the full findings from the Chandra team, which should clarify the star's identity and the physical process behind its outbursts.