When a white dwarf explodes as a type Ia supernova, its death is so bright that its light can be detected across the Universe. A new observation using the Hubble Space Telescope identified the farthest type Ia supernova yet seen, at a distance of greater than 10 billion light-years.

But this star, called HD 34989 (among other alphanumeric designations) is special. For one thing, it's massive, probably 10 times the mass of our Sun. It's also incredibly luminous, shining 15,000 times brighter than the Sun. Put that in the center of our solar system, and the global warming we're experiencing now would seem like the deep freeze. Happily, it's over a thousand light years away.

Astronomers studying a newborn star have caught a detailed glimpse of planets forming around it, revealing a never-before seen stage of planetary evolution.