Supernova Factory Discovered Where Galaxies Collide

Space.com via Yahoo! ^ | 5/29/03 | Robert Roy Britt

[aruanan]

I'd like to know the redshift for each of these interacting galaxies. There are numerous instances of physically interacting pairs with redshifts so dissimilar that their obvious interaction is denied solely on the basis of redshift (Markarian 205/NGC 4319 and Einstein's Cross to name two instances).

[wgeorge2001]

"This supernova is likely to be part of a group of super star clusters that produce an average of one such stellar explosion every two years," said James Ulvestad of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory.

How do they figure this out?

[avg_freeper]

My supernova has been on back-order for three weeks now.

[null and void]

I suppose slamming into each other at some high speed might do it???

[PatrickHenry]

The supernovae, forged at the intersection of two merging galaxies, help confirm a long-held theoretical expectation that galaxy collisions generate episodes of intense star birth and rapid death. Astronomers call these merging objects starbirth galaxies, and they are thought to be a primary driving force of cosmic evolution.

Very much like the wonderously speculative opening chapter of "Triplanetary," E.E. "Doc" Smith's famous space opera.