ARIES study of supernova SN 2023zcu could help build the cosmic distance scale
A study by ARIES scientists and international researchers, released on 12 June 2026, examines supernova SN 2023zcu in the galaxy NGC 2139, about 90.7 million light-years away.
Summary
A detailed study of supernova SN 2023zcu, discovered in 2023 at the edge of the spiral galaxy NGC 2139 about 90.7 million light-years from Earth, could help estimate distances in the local universe, the DST said on 12 June 2026. The study was published in The Astrophysical Journal by Monalisa Dubey, Dr Kuntal Misra and Naveen Dukiya of the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), an autonomous institute under the DST, with international researchers. Type IIP is the most common kind of core-collapse supernova and occurs when a red supergiant of about 8â17 solar masses reaches the end of its life.
Key facts
- Object
- SN 2023zcu, discovered 2023
- Host galaxy
- Spiral galaxy NGC 2139, ~90.7 million light-years away
- Institute
- ARIES (autonomous, under DST)
- Journal
- The Astrophysical Journal
- Background
- Type IIP: most common core-collapse supernova; red supergiants of ~8â17 solar masses
Practice MCQs 2 questions
Supernova SN 2023zcu, studied by ARIES scientists (June 2026), was discovered at the edge of which galaxy?
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Correct answer: D â NGC 2139
SN 2023zcu was discovered at the edge of the spiral galaxy NGC 2139, about 90.7 million light-years away.
Consider the following statements based on the DST release on SN 2023zcu (June 2026): 1. The study was published in The Astrophysical Journal by ARIES scientists with international researchers. 2. Type IIP supernovae occur when a red supergiant of about 8â17 solar masses reaches the end of its life. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A â Both 1 and 2
Both are stated in the DST release, which calls Type IIP the most common core-collapse supernova.