First look at a dying star’s dramatic transformation

Scientists have captured the first close-up image of a dying star, WOH G64, located in the Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy, 160,000 light-years from Earth.

Using the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope Interferometer, the star is seen surrounded by a glowing, egg-shaped cocoon of gas and dust, with a faint outer ring. These structures are believed to result from uneven material ejections or the gravitational influence of a potential companion star.

WOH G64, a massive red supergiant once 25–40 times the mass of the sun, is nearing the end of its 10–20 million-year life and is expected to explode as a supernova soon. Its diameter is vast, extending to Saturn's orbit if placed in our solar system. Observations show the star has dimmed over the last decade, likely due to expelled gas and dust.

This groundbreaking image offers a rare glimpse into the final stages of a star's life, providing insights into stellar evolution in galactic environments distinct from the Milky Way.

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