Chandra Maps Vital Elements in Supernovas
Chandra X-ray image of the supernovas remnant Cassiopeia A (Cas A). The red, green, and blue regions in this Chandra X-ray image of the supernovas remnant Cassiopeia A show where the intensity of low, medium, and high-energy X-rays, respectively, is greatest. The red material on the left outer edge is enriched in iron, whereas the bright greenish white region on the lower left is enriched in silicon and sulfur. In the blue region on the right edge, low and medium energy X-rays have been filtered out by a cloud of dust and gas in the remnant.
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This Chandra X-ray Observatory image of the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A appears as a brilliant, roughly spherical pink, blue and green shell of glowing material with bright lines or veins sprinkled throughout, all resting on a solid black background. The image is a composite of different X-ray energy levels. The red, green, and blue regions in the image of Cassiopeia A show where the intensity of low, medium, and high-energy X-rays, respectively, is greatest. Pinkish-red material on the left outer edge is enriched in iron, whereas a bright greenish white region on the lower left is enriched in silicon and sulfur. In the blue region on the right edge, low and medium energy X-rays have been filtered out by a cloud of dust and gas in the remnant. At the center of the nebula is a tiny, bright dot, the compact object (a neutron star) left behind after the supernova.