Global telescope network captures early shock-breakout of a colossal stellar explosion

Astronomers worldwide recorded the first moments of a 500‑million‑light‑year‑distant Type Ic broad‑lined supernova from a Wolf–Rayet progenitor, catching the faint X-ray shock breakout and mapping the star’s pre‑explosion surroundings; the event showed jets but no observed gamma‑ray burst, suggesting a possible choking of the jet, with Rubin Observatory and other facilities continuing long‑term follow‑up observations.