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RCW 86: A Super-Efficient Particle Accelerator
RCW 86
Visual Description:


This image of data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope shows a part of the roughly circular supernova remnant known as RCW 86. This remnant is the remains of an exploded star, which may have been observed on Earth in 185 AD by Chinese astronomers. By studying this remnant, a team of astronomers was able to understand new details about the role of supernova remnants as the Milky Way's super-efficient particle accelerators. The team shows that the shock wave visible in this area is very efficient at accelerating particles and the energy used in this process matches the number of cosmic rays observed on Earth.

The VLT data (colored red in the composite) was used to measure the temperature of the gas right behind the shock wave created by the stellar explosion. Using X-ray images from Chandra (blue), taken three years apart, the researchers were also able to determine the speed of the shock wave to be between one and three percent of the speed of light. The temperature found by these latest results is much lower than expected, given the measured shock wave's velocity. The researchers conclude that the missing energy goes into accelerating the cosmic rays.

Visual Description:

Part of the supernova remnant RCW 86 is shown in a beautiful X-ray and optical image. The image features a close-up view of a blue and red nebula with many pale gold stars dusted throughout the background. The bright blue structures are shaped like textured cloudy arcs across the field of view. The red wisps follow a similar path and shape but look like streaky atmospheric sprites. This image combines data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Very Large Telescope to show a small curve of the roughly circular supernova remnant RCW 86. The optical data (colored red in the composite) was used to measure the temperature of the gas right behind the shock wave created by the stellar explosion. Using X-ray images from Chandra (blue), taken three years apart, the researchers were also able to determine the speed of the shock wave to be between one and three percent of the speed of light.

 

Fast Facts for RCW 86:
Credit  Optical: ESO/E. Helder; X-ray: NASA/CXC/Univ. of Utrecht/J.Vink et al.
Release Date  June 26, 2009
Scale  Image is about 6 arcmin across
Category  Supernovas & Supernova Remnants
Coordinates (J2000)  RA | Dec
Constellation  Circinus
Observation Date  01 Jan 02
Observation Time  26 hours
Obs. ID  1993
Instrument  ACIS
Also Known As G315.4-2.1
Color Code  X-ray: Blue; Optical: red
Optical
X-ray
Distance Estimate  About 8,200 light years
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