Tycho's Supernova is a Type Ia supernova that was observed in 1572 by the astronomer Tycho Brahe. It is one of the most famous and well-studied supernovae in history, providing critical insights into stellar evolution and binary star systems.
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Tycho's Supernova was visible to the naked eye for about 16 months.
It occurred in the constellation Cassiopeia.
Tycho's observations provided evidence that stars could change, challenging the Aristotelian belief in an unchanging universe.
Modern analysis suggests it resulted from a white dwarf in a binary system accumulating matter from its companion star until reaching the Chandrasekhar limit.
The remnant of Tycho's Supernova is still observable today and has been extensively studied using various wavelengths of light, including X-rays.
Review Questions
What type of supernova is Tycho's Supernova classified as?
How did Tycho’s observations challenge existing beliefs about the universe?
What significance does the Chandrasekhar limit have in relation to Tycho’s Supernova?
The maximum mass (approximately 1.4 times that of the Sun) that a white dwarf can have before collapsing under its own gravity.
Binary Star System: A system where two stars orbit around their common center of mass, often interacting gravitationally and influencing each other's evolution.