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JWST Reveals Hidden Supergiant Before Supernova Explosion

10/11/2025

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Summary

Story summary

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) captured a red supergiant in NGC 1637 just before SN2025pht.
The study in The Astrophysical Journal Letters shows the star was cloaked in dust, yet it was 100,000 times more luminous than the Sun.
The study suggests dust hides many red supergiants, explaining their apparent rarity before explosions.
The findings imply earlier supernovae were more luminous, altering views of stellar evolution and SN mechanisms.

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Story summary

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) captured a red supergiant in NGC 1637 just before SN2025pht.
The study in The Astrophysical Journal Letters shows the star was cloaked in dust, yet it was 100,000 times more luminous than the Sun.
The study suggests dust hides many red supergiants, explaining their apparent rarity before explosions.
The findings imply earlier supernovae were more luminous, altering views of stellar evolution and SN mechanisms.