Chandra Release - December 17, 2009

Visual Description: G292.0+1.8

Two images of the supernova remnants G292 0 + 1 8 and Kepler are shown side by side here.  The Chandra X-ray Observatory image of G292.0+1.8 depicts the nebula as a bright, glowing object that resembles a jellyfish swimming on its side. The colors of the image are predominantly white, yellow, red and blue, with some green and purple hues present, a rainbow of hues. This image shows a rapidly expanding shell of gas that is 36 light years across and contains large amounts of elements such as oxygen, neon, magnesium, silicon and sulfur.  On the right, the X-ray image of  Kepler's Supernova Remnant is dominated by shades of pale purple-pink, and electric blue, with a hint of pale gold and green. The structure of Kepler's Supernova Remnant consists of an irregularly shaped nebula, almost like a knot. In the Chandra Kepler image, pink tones represent low-energy X-rays and show material around the star -- dominated by oxygen -- that has been heated up by a blast wave from the star's explosion. The pale gold color shows slightly higher energy X-rays, mostly iron formed in the supernova, while green (medium-energy X-rays) shows other elements from the exploded star. The blue color represents the highest energy X-rays and shows a shock front generated by the explosion.