News Astronomy

An X-ray glow suggests black holes or neutron stars fuel weird cosmic ‘cows’

Evidence comes from the fifth — and brightest yet — of a new class of exploding stars

illustration of a Cow-like supernova with yellow hues

A Cow-like supernova (illustrated) may leave behind a black hole or neutron star that is beaming energy, causing the remnant to glow in X-rays, optical light and radio waves.

National Astronomical Observatory of Japan

By Liz Kruesi

- More than 2 years ago

A brilliant blast from a galaxy 2 billion light-years away is the brightest cosmic “Cow” found yet.