Amman: The Jordanian Astronomical Society has captured observations of a newly discovered supernova some 40 million light-years from Earth, documenting the stellar explosion only days after it was first detected.
According to Jordan News Agency, the supernova, designated as "SN 2026aaiv," appeared in the spiral galaxy "NGC 7331" located in the constellation Pegasus. This cosmic event was observed from Jordan on Saturday night. Ammar Sakaji, President of the Jordanian Astronomical Society, stated that the supernova was initially detected on September 1 by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) survey, sporting an apparent magnitude of about 17.3.
The brightness of the supernova increased significantly in the days following its discovery, reaching an apparent magnitude of approximately 14. This allowed astronomers in Jordan to capture the event at a relatively early stage in its evolution. Sakaji explained that the light observed from northern Amman had traveled nearly 40 million years before reaching Earth, indicating that the stellar explosion occurred around 40 million years ago.
"SN 2026aaiv" has been classified as a Type Ia supernova, a category of stellar explosions that holds substantial importance in the field of astronomy. Due to their predictable luminosity, Type Ia supernovae are often utilized as "standard candles" for determining cosmic distances, aiding scientists in studying the expansion of the universe. The Jordanian Astronomical Society plans to continue monitoring the supernova in the coming nights to track changes in its brightness, contributing valuable data from Jordan to the collective observations of astronomers worldwide.