SN 1994I

High school (ages 12+)
Space & Astronomy

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/sn-1994i

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Who discovered SN 1994I?March 26, 1994
2. What is the supernova classification?Type Ia
3. What is the host galaxy designation?NGC 3370
4. How does a star like SN 1994I explode?A white dwarf star in a binary pair gains mass from its companion until it reaches a limit, then it fuses carbon and explodes, destroying itself.
5. Why do scientists study SN 1994I?It helps scientists measure distances in space and learn about the universe’s expansion and dark energy.

Chandrasekhar Limit: The maximum stable mass for a white dwarf star, around 1.4 times the mass of the Sun.
Nucleosynthesis: The process by which new atomic nuclei are created in stars and supernovae.
Light Curve: A graphical representation of the change in brightness of an astronomical object over time.
Dark Energy: A hypothetical form of energy believed to be responsible for the accelerating expansion of the universe.