The biggest explosion of all time went kaboom in 2006, inside galaxy NGC 1260, some 250 million light-years away. Why was this supernova 100 times brighter than others? The answer is itself bizarre.
Named SN 2006gy, this supernova certainly stands apart. But first, a disclaimer: Although originally hailed by
Time magazine as the brightest explosion ever, SN 2006gy is in one sense only the third brightest. It depends on whether you assess it by its peak brilliance (in which case it’s third) or by its total energy output (in which case it’s the winner). You see, 2006gy kept cranking out super-brightness for many months, whereas its competitor, SN 2005ap, which exploded in a far more distant galaxy a year earlier, emitted a slighter greater brilliance, but in a shorter outburst.
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