Astronomers Capture First Close-Up Image of a Star Beyond Our Galaxy
In a groundbreaking achievement, astronomers at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) have captured an incredibly detailed image of WOH G64, a red supergiant star located in the Large Magellanic Cloud—a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way, about 160,000 light-years away in the constellation Dorado. This marks the first-ever close-up image of a star beyond our galaxy.
A Glimpse Into a Dying Giant
Using the Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI) in Chile’s Atacama Desert, researchers managed to observe the massive star in unprecedented detail. WOH G64 is one of the largest and most luminous stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud. However, its days are numbered, as it is nearing the final stages of its life cycle and will eventually explode in a spectacular supernova.
Signs of an Impending Supernova
For nearly 30 years, WOH G64 was highly active, expelling massive amounts of material. But in 2014, the star suddenly went quiet, signaling a major change. The expelled material has now formed an egg-shaped cocoon around the star, a phenomenon previously unseen. Over the past decade, WOH G64 has dimmed significantly, providing further evidence that it is reaching the end of its lifespan.
A Rare Opportunity for Astronomers
This discovery, published on November 21 in Astronomy & Astrophysics, offers scientists a rare opportunity to study the final moments of a dying star outside our galaxy. Observing how WOH G64 evolves in the coming years could provide new insights into stellar evolution and supernova explosions, helping astronomers better understand the life cycle of massive stars.
With this historic image, scientists have not only captured the last breaths of a cosmic giant but also taken a major step forward in our exploration of the universe beyond the Milky Way. 🚀✨
