In 1572, the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe was among those who noticed a "new star" in the constellation of Cassiopeia. Astronomers now know that this object was not new at all — it instead signaled the death of star in a supernova.
The Tycho supernova remnant is from a "Type Ia" supernova where a white dwarf star explodes after exceeding a critical mass.
Over 400 years later, data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory reveals a clumpy and lumpy pattern of bright and fainter regions in the stellar debris.
Scientists compared the Chandra data to theoretical computer simulations to try to determine where these clumps came from.
Their research reveals the supernova itself was likely responsible, suggesting the explosion may have detonated in multiple spots on the star.
Understanding the details of Type Ia supernovas is important because astronomers use them as "standard candles" for studying the Universe on large scales.
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