Depiction of the most likely scenario of SN 2021yfj (VIDEO)
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Near the end of its life, SN 2021yfj's stripped-to-the-bone progenitor underwent two rare and extremely violent pair-instability episodes, ejecting shells rich in silicon (grey), sulphur (yellow) and argon (purple). The collision of these massive shells is so violent that it created a brilliant supernova that could still be seen at a distance of 2.2 billion light years. SN 2021yfj is so unusual it defines a new class, Type Ien, and the star itself may have survived the event.
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W.M. Keck Observatory/Adam Makarenko
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