Question

discuss with your group: 1. what is the overall story about supernova 1054? in the beginning... then... now... 2. what are your initial ideas about what caused the changes in the star that you just observed in the visualization? 3. what questions would you want to investigate further in order to help you determine what kind of star can support an earth - like planet?

Explanation:

1. Supernova 1054 was a stellar explosion observed in 1054 AD. It was so bright it was visible during the day for weeks and at night for years. It left behind the Crab Nebula, a remnant of the explosion. In the beginning, it was a massive star. Then, it underwent a core - collapse supernova explosion. Now, the Crab Nebula is a well - studied astronomical object with a pulsar at its center.
2. Initial ideas for the changes in the star could include core exhaustion of nuclear fuel, leading to a gravitational collapse and subsequent explosion. Another idea could be a binary - star interaction that triggered the explosion.
3. Questions for further investigation could be: What is the mass range of stars that can support Earth - like planets? What is the lifespan of such stars? What is the level of radiation output from these stars over time?

Answer:

1. In the beginning: It was a massive star. Then: It underwent a core - collapse supernova explosion. Now: The Crab Nebula with a pulsar at its center remains.
2. Core exhaustion of nuclear fuel; Binary - star interaction.
3. What is the mass range of stars that can support Earth - like planets? What is the lifespan of such stars? What is the level of radiation output from these stars over time?