Astronomers Imaged Rare Zombie Star Supernova Remnant
New high-resolution imagery reveals the complex structure of a unique Type Iax supernova remnant in our galaxy.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Space
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Astronomers have captured high-resolution images of Pa 30, the only known Type Iax supernova remnant in the Milky Way containing a surviving zombie star. The findings, published in The Astrophysical Journal, detail the remnant's internal structure 7,500 light-years from Earth.
Why it matters
Identifying the formation mechanism of Pa 30 helps clarify how colliding white dwarfs create unique stellar remnants. This discovery provides a new template for astronomers to search the Milky Way for similar surviving stars and explosive events.
The Gemini North telescope, situated at a 4,200-meter elevation, captured these images by analyzing ionized sulfur and doubly ionized oxygen emission lines. The resulting data maps complex chains of gas knots within a remnant located 7,500 light-years from Earth.
The players
Gemini North
An 8.1-meter optical/infrared telescope located at Mauna Kea, Hawai'i, capable of high-resolution imaging.
The Astrophysical Journal
A peer-reviewed scientific journal focused on recent developments, discoveries, and theories in astronomy and astrophysics.
The details
Researchers utilized the Gemini North telescope to resolve the fine structure of Pa 30, which originated from a supernova first recorded in 1181. By examining emission lines—light signatures left by specific chemical elements—astronomers identified uniform gas knots. They hypothesize the remnant formed from a collision between two white dwarfs, a dense stellar core that has ceased fusion, resulting in the survival of a central zombie star with a negligible transverse kick speed.
Timeline
1181: The historical supernova was first witnessed and recorded.
2013: A citizen scientist first identified the remnant Pa 30.
October 6, 2026: Detailed findings were published in The Astrophysical Journal.
The Tech Race
This research follows the documentation of only five historical supernovae recorded before the telescope era. It establishes a new search pattern for astronomers to identify similar Type Iax remnants throughout the Milky Way.
This development currently serves as a benchmark for astronomers and researchers studying stellar evolution. It confirms the potential for citizen science to drive significant discoveries in professional observational astronomy.
The takeaway
The study of Pa 30 confirms that unique, surviving stellar remnants can be identified through high-resolution spectroscopy and imaging. Astronomers will now watch for similar signatures of white dwarf collisions across the Milky Way to refine models of Type Iax supernova events.
Further reading
For more on the latest research in our galaxy, visit the Space section.
More information
View the NOIRLab official project news release for detailed imagery and additional data.
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