NewsPerfectly spherical supernova remnant 'Teleios' stuns scientists

Perfectly spherical supernova remnant 'Teleios' stuns scientists

An international team of scientists has discovered an almost perfectly spherical object in the Milky Way, named Teleios, which is a remnant of a supernova explosion. What should we know about this new discovery in our galaxy?

An extraordinary discovery by Australian scientists in the Milky Way
An extraordinary discovery by Australian scientists in the Milky Way
Images source: © Getty Images | Inga-Av

An international group of researchers, led by astrophysicist Miroslav Filipović from Western Sydney University, has made a remarkable discovery in our galaxy. They have identified an almost perfectly spherical cloud of matter, which is a remnant of a supernova explosion. This object, named Teleios, was observed thanks to the Australian radio telescope ASKAP as part of the Evolutionary Map of the Universe project.

Teleios - what is it?

Teleios, visible only in the radio wave spectrum, is likely the remnant of a Type Ia supernova. However, its exact distance from Earth remains unknown, estimated at 4,350 or over 15,540 light-years. Interestingly, the object does not emit X-rays, which is unusual for this type of explosion.

Scientists consider the possibility that Teleios is the remnant of the rarer Type Iax supernova, although the object's distance challenges this hypothesis. Most surprising, however, is its perfect symmetry, which is rare among supernova remnants, as they are usually irregular.

The significance of the discovery for further research

Researchers conducted a detailed analysis of the evolution of this supernova, based on its surface brightness, size, and potential distances. Nevertheless, the mystery of Teleios remains unsolved, and scientists plan further observations to better understand the history of this extraordinary object.

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