Chandra Broadband X-ray Image of SNR 0540-69.3
The Chandra image of SNR 0540-69.3 clearly shows two aspects of the enormous power released when a massive star explodes. An implosion crushed material into an extremely dense neutron star, triggering an explosion that sent a shock wave rumbling through space at speeds in excess of 5 million miles per hour.
Scale: Image is 1.7 arcmin per side
(Credit: NASA/CXC/SAO)

Chandra HRC X-ray Image of SNR 0540-69.3
This Chandra image of SNR 0540-69.3 was taken with the High Resolution Camera (HRC) on August 31, 1999 for 4.7 hours and is color coded for intensity.
Scale: Image is 1.7 arcmin per side
(Credit: NASA/CXC/E.V.Gotthelf et al.)

Chandra HRC Image of SNR 0540-69.3 with Inset
The inset shows the region around the central pulsar in more detail. Note the elongated shape, which may be an extended doughnut, or torus-shaped region created by a high-speed flow of particles away from the equator of the neutron star. The features perpendicular to the torus may be due to jets of high energy particles streaming away from the poles of the neutron star. The neutron star itself is an unresolvable point-like source buried in the middle of the white region.
Scale: Upper left image is 1.7 arcmin per side
(Credit: NASA/CXC/SAO)

ATCA Radio Image of SNR 0540-69.3
The radio data of supernova remnant 0540-69.3 was observed with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) four times between May 6 and August 19 of 1990. The field of view is the same as the Chandra image.
Scale: Image is 1.7 arcmin per side
(Credit: NASA/CXC/Manchester et al.)

X-ray/Radio Composite of SNR 0540-69.3
Scale: Image is 1.7 arcmin per side
(Credit: NASA/CXC/Manchester et al.)

Chandra 3-color Image of SNR 0540-69.3
The Chandra image of SNR 0540-69.3 shows two aspects of the enormous power released when a massive star explodes. The image has been color coded so that low, medium and high energy X-rays are represented as red, green and blue, respectively.
Scale: Image is 1.7 arcmin per side
(Credit: NASA/CXC/SAO)