'Live' supernova recorded from 440 light years

Scientists have discovered they were able to record the beginnings of a supernova in real-time, after NASA's Swift satellite picked up a release of energy that led to the dying star being "caught on tape".

A team of astronomers from the U.S., U.K., and Italy noticed what turned out to be an unusually-long gamma ray burst - 100 times longer than a typical outpouring, which only lasts from a few milliseconds to tens of seconds.

Recorded in February, the gamma ray burst was also 25 times closer than average, at 440 light years.

Swift was designed to seek out gamma ray bursts and other releases of energy, but after carefully observing the recording, the scientists say that this particular burst was unlike any recorded in the past.

In order to fully capture the length of this outburst, the scientists had to use three more telescopes aboard Swift.

The astronomers say that the exceptionally long burst pierced through the core of the star and sent out a warning within minutes that a supernova was going to occur.

As the gamma ray burst faded, the massive ignited, the scientists say.

The scientists claim that this is the first time a gamma ray burst warned of a supernova.

The groups of astronomers gathered data on the event and have published separate research papers in today's issue of Nature.

Photography: NASA

Source: Discovery Channel Reports, August 31 edition