About Cassiopeia A
- It is a remnant of a massive star that exploded some 340 years ago.
- It is the youngest remnant off the massive star in our galaxy known to mankind.
- It belongs to the prototypical type of supernova remnant and has been extensively studied by a number of ground-based and space-based observatories,
- The remnant spans about 10 light-years and is located 11,000 light-years away in the constellation Cassiopeia.
- It gives information related to the supernovae phenomenon and its complexities.
Key points about supernova explosion
- It is the explosion of a massive star.
- It happens when there is a change in the core of the star. A change can occur in two different ways, with both resulting in a supernova.
- The first type of supernova happens in binary star systems:
- Binary stars are two stars that orbit the same point. One of the stars, a carbon-oxygen white dwarf, steals matter from its companion star.
- Eventually, the white dwarf accumulates too much matter. Having too much matter causes the star to explode, resulting in a supernova.
- The second type of supernova occurs at the end of a single star’s lifetime:
- As the star runs out of nuclear fuel, some of its mass flows into its core. Eventually, the core is so heavy that it cannot withstand its own gravitational force.
- The core collapses, which results in the giant explosion of a supernova.
Q1) What is the meaning of constellations?
Constellation, in astronomy, any of certain groupings of stars that were imagined—at least by those who named them—to form conspicuous configurations of objects or creatures in the sky. Constellations are useful in assisting astronomers and navigators to locate certain stars.
Source: Webb captures star explosion in deep space. Pictures show violent aftermath
Last updated on July, 2025
→ UPSC Notification 2025 was released on 22nd January 2025.
→ UPSC Prelims Result 2025 is out now for the CSE held on 25 May 2025.
→ UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2025 and Unofficial Prelims Answer Key 2025 are available now.
→ UPSC Calendar 2026 is released on 15th May, 2025.
→ The UPSC Vacancy 2025 were released 1129, out of which 979 were for UPSC CSE and remaining 150 are for UPSC IFoS.
→ UPSC Mains 2025 will be conducted on 22nd August 2025.
→ UPSC Prelims 2026 will be conducted on 24th May, 2026 & UPSC Mains 2026 will be conducted on 21st August 2026.
→ The UPSC Selection Process is of 3 stages-Prelims, Mains and Interview.
→ UPSC Result 2024 is released with latest UPSC Marksheet 2024. Check Now!
→ UPSC Toppers List 2024 is released now. Shakti Dubey is UPSC AIR 1 2024 Topper.
→ Also check Best IAS Coaching in Delhi