WR 104: The Star That Could Explode

WR 104 is a massive Wolf–Rayet star system located about 8,000 light-years from Earth. Astronomers believe the Wolf–Rayet star could eventually end its life in a powerful supernova explosion. Some researchers once wondered whether the explosion could produce a gamma-ray burst aimed at Earth. However, newer observations suggest the system’s orientation makes a direct burst toward us unlikely. The explosion is not expected anytime soon—it could happen thousands or even hundreds of thousands of years from now. #WR104SupernovaWolfRayetStarSpaceFactsAstronomyGammaRayBurstUniverseCosmicMystery