In a recent study, scientists suggest that a supernova 21 million light-years from Earth could be used as a communication beacon for aliens. The team of astronomers at the University of Washington is examining SN 2023ixf , located in the Pinwheel Galaxy . The supernova is the closest stellar explosion observed by humans in the past decade.
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Scientists suggest that there are at least 100 supernovae located 300 light-years away from Earth and are examining whether they are surrounded by habitable planets. If aliens observe the supernova, it is possible that they could use it as a magnet to communicate with other planets.
The National Astronomical Service in Gozo has identified SN 2023ixf, a type II supernova that was formed by a star eight times the mass of Sun. This information has helped researchers understand its nature.
James Davenport 's team used the "ellipsoidal SETI" method to survey an egg-shaped zone of space where life is likely to exist on other planets and stars, in order to observe astronomical events.
In this survey, the zone can include up to 100 nearby stars. The Allen Telescope Array (ATA) telescopes are used by astronomers in North Carolina as well as the Robert C Byrd Green Bank Telescope in Virginia to study the stars and understand whether there are habitable planets surrounding them.
See also: Astrophysicist: Aliens may find us before we find them
"We plan to visit the Ellipsoid once a month for the next few months as new stars enter the sample, and we are open to synchronizing our observations with other multi-wavelength facilities," the study published on arXiv states.
In his interview with New Scientist, Davenport acknowledged that the chances of him and his team making contact with aliens are slim, but he believes it's worth a try.
"The worst thing would be for a signal to come and we not notice it because we didn't bother to look," he said.
Andrew McCarthy, an astrophotographer known for his beautiful space photos, was among the first citizens to capture images of the epic event. He uploaded a multi- image of the Pinwheel Galaxy, which shows a flashing light at the corner of the star's explosion.
"I used the color data I already had on this galaxy and stacked about 10 minute long exposures to create this animation," McCarthy wrote on Twitter.
He added, “You can see how close the supernova is in some of the nebulae… imagine the view from there!”
See also: UFO: Are aliens watching Earth from nearby stars?
Speaking to the Daily Mail, McCarthy said that for several months he had been recording the Pinwheel Galaxy and during this work, the star exploded without him noticing.
