The Hubble Space Telescope is a Powerful Science Instrument Despite its Age

This is supernova SN 2022aajn as observed by the Hubble. It's the small blue dot near the center of the image. The space telescope is examining this SN and 99 other Type Ia SN to refine our understanding of standard candles. Image Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, R. J. Foley (UC Santa Cruz)

This Hubble image shows a supernova named SN 2022aajn in a distant galaxy about 600 million light-years away with the unwieldy name of WISEA J070815.11+210422.3. However, the obtuse yet scientifically descriptive names aren’t what’s important.

What’s important is that SN 2022aajn is a Type 1a supernova, also known as a standard candle, and this image is part of a critical effort in cosmology.

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