Question

scuss 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 star that underwent a supernova explosion in 1054 AD. It was visible during the day for several weeks and at night for about two years. Then, the remnants of the explosion formed the Crab Nebula. Now, the Crab Nebula contains a pulsar - a rapidly rotating neutron star that emits beams of electromagnetic radiation.
2. Initial ideas about the changes in the star could include the exhaustion of nuclear fuel in the star's core, leading to a gravitational collapse and subsequent explosion. Another idea could be a binary - star interaction where mass transfer from one star to another causes an unstable situation leading to a supernova.
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 emitted by these stars and how it affects the habitability of planets?

Answer:

1. In the beginning: A star existed. Then: It exploded in 1054 AD, visible for a long time. Now: Its remnants form the Crab Nebula with a pulsar.
2. Exhaustion of nuclear fuel; Binary - star interaction.
3. What is the mass range of suitable stars? What is the lifespan of such stars? What is the radiation level and its impact on planet habitability?