Astronomers have made a major breakthrough in our understanding of supernovae with the help of a powerful telescope located in India. The Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO) at Hanle, Ladakh has been used to observe and collect data on a rare type of stellar explosion known as a Type Ia supernova. This is the first time that a telescope in India has been used for such a purpose. Type Ia supernovae occur when a white dwarf star in a binary system accretes mass from its companion star, pushing it past the Chandrasekhar limit and triggering the thermonuclear explosion. By studying these supernovae, astronomers are able to better understand the evolution of galaxies and the expansion of the universe. This new discovery from the IAO is a major step forward in our understanding of supernovae and their role in the universe.

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source: Phys.org