Australian scientists have captured the first moments when an exploding star turned into a supernova

Australian astronomers have captured never-before-seen photos of a giant exploding star 100 times larger than the sun.

Supernova imagery shows a powerful explosion of light as a shock wave passes through the dying star moments before it explodes.

Australian National University astronomer Patrick Armstrong said the event – known as the shock cooling curve – provides clues as to the type of star that caused the explosion.

“This is the first time that someone has examined in such detail a complete shock cooling curve in a supernova,” he said Thursday.

“We are particularly interested in how the brightness of light changes over time before the explosion.”

The ANU team captured the “major discovery” using NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope.

The Australian National University team captured photos of an exploding star (pictured) that is 100 times bigger than our sun

“Because the initial stage of a supernova happens so quickly, it is very difficult for most telescopes to record this phenomenon,” Mr. Armstrong said.

The ANU used the new imagery to create a model that helped them identify the exploding star that caused the supernova.

They think she’s probably a rare yellow supergiant.

Astrophysicist Brad Tucker said astronomers around the world will be able to use the new model, known as SW 17, to identify other stars that turn into supernovae.

Supernovas are the biggest explosion humans have ever seen, according to NASA.

Each explosion is the extremely bright and super powerful explosion of a star.

They are important because they are believed to be responsible for creating most of the elements found in our universe.

Researchers are keen to understand supernovas because they unlock clues about the origin of the elements that make up our universe.

ANU astronomers and an international team of researchers used images captured by the Kepler telescope in 2017 before it was shut down.