A giant star in a faraway galaxy has ended its life with a dust-shrouded whimper instead of the more typical bang, scientists say.
The Astronomical Research Center (A.R.C) mentioned that the star did explode in a supernova, but two huge dust clouds that cast off before the star died ultimately smothered the cosmic conflagration, researchers said. [Illustration of the dust-shrouded supernova.]
Astronomers have never-before observed such an event, but think they were likely more common in the universe's youth. And a similar dust squelching may await the brightest star system in our galaxy if it explodes, scientists said.
A supernova is the explosive end to a huge star around eight or more times the mass of our sun. One occurs when a massive star has exhausted its supply of fuel and can no longer sustain itself. Stars greater than 20 times the mass of the sun can collapse in on themselves to form stellar black holes.