The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has recently photographed the little-known galaxy WISEA J070815.11+210422.3, situated approximately 600 million light-years away in the constellation of Gemini. This image was captured two months after the SN 2022aajn supernova event occurred within the galaxy.
According to Hubble astronomers, SN 2022aajn, classified as a Type Ia supernova, results from the explosion of a dead star's core. These supernovae serve as essential tools for astronomers to measure distances to distant galaxies due to their consistent intrinsic luminosity.
Despite the potential complications introduced by cosmic dust, Hubble will survey a total of 100 Type Ia supernovae across seven wavelength bands, from ultraviolet to near-infrared. The color image of WISEA J070815.11+210422.3 was created using Hubble's Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3), employing four filters to capture various infrared wavelengths. This approach enables astronomers to analyze the brightness of supernovae and disentangle the effects of dust and distance, enhancing measurements of galaxies billions of light-years away and contributing to our understanding of the universe's expansion.