Which specific supernovae events are used as "standard candles" for cosmic distance measurement?

Answer

Type Ia supernovae

Type Ia supernovae are uniquely suited for use as cosmological distance indicators because they function as 'standard candles.' This designation arises because these specific explosions occur when a white dwarf in a binary star system accrues mass until it reaches the precise Chandrasekhar limit, triggering a thermonuclear runaway. Since the explosion mechanism is triggered at almost the exact same critical mass every time, the intrinsic peak luminosity (true brightness) of these events is remarkably consistent across all observed instances. By comparing this known intrinsic brightness to the apparent brightness observed from Earth, astronomers derive highly accurate calculations of the immense distances to these faraway objects.

Which specific supernovae events are used as "standard candles" for cosmic distance measurement?

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