Supernova ignition surprises scientists »

Supernova SN2012fr, just to the left of the centre of the galaxy, outshone the rest of the galaxy for several weeks: Credit Brad Tucker and Emma Kirby. Scientists have captured the early death throes of supernovae for the first time and found that the universe's benchmark explosions are much more varied than expected. The scientists used the Kepler space telescope to photograph three type 1a supernovae in the earliest stages of ignition. They then tracked the explosions in detail to full brightness around three weeks later, and the subsequent decline over the next few months. They found the initial stages of a supernova explosion did not fit with the existing theories. "The stars all blow up uniquely. It doesn't make sense," said Dr Brad Tucker from The Australian National University (ANU).