Supernova spotted shortly after explosion

Spectra from just hours after blast provide details of star’s last days

NGC7610

BRIGHT AND EARLY Scientists caught an early glimpse of an exploding star in the galaxy NGC7610 (shown before the supernova). Light from the explosion revealed that gas (orange) surrounded the star, indicating that the star spurted out gas in advance of the blast.

Ofer Yaron

Astronomers have caught a star exploding just hours after light from the eruption first reached Earth.