Wooden laser cut astronomy necklace, showing the absorption and emission features of a supernova.

I designed this statement necklace shortly after finishing my PhD in Astrophysics! It combines my love of science and laser cut jewellery. I hope you love it as much as I do!

During my PhD I studied nearby galaxies which are constantly forming stars. When a massive star reaches the end of it's life, it is destroyed in a huge explosion called a supernova. The brightest supernova ever seen with the naked eye occurred over 1,000 years ago, and shone so brightly that it was visible during the day.  Each time a star dies in a supernova explosion, new elements are created and this leaves a trace in the light collected by our telescopes. By looking at this light we can tell which elements have just been formed. Each line on this necklace represents a different element or molecule, so any keen-eyed astronomer will be able to tell what it is.

You can choose either narrow or wide-engraved lines - just make your choice when you add it to your cart.

What's that, you say? You want to know more about the science? Sure! The main absorption and emission features you can see here are typical of a Type Ia supernova, which occurs when two stars, which had been orbiting one another in a binary system, get closer and closer to one another until they explode in a supernova. From left to right their main spectral features are: FeIII, CaII, SiII, FeII, SiII (yep, it appears more than once!), OI, MgII, CaII.

This necklace comes in a Cepheid Studio branded gift box as standard (see last listing pictures).

All my items are beautifully finished and are hand-made by me in my Paris studio.

This necklace is the perfect gift for any science-lover! If you have any questions, just send me a message.

Approximate sizes:
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Height: 1.5cm (1/2")
Width: 10cm (4")
Depth: 0.3cm (1/8")
Chain length: 45cm (18")

Materials:
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Cherry wood & silver plated chain.
Please note that the grain of the wood varies between pieces and sometime features knots etc, so your piece of jewellery will be one of a kind.

Care tips:
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This necklace is made from wood, so make sure it stays dry. No accidental trips in the washing machine, please!
The chain is silver plated, so to keep it in tip-top condition you should keep it away from soaps, makeup, perfumes, and other chemicals.