Chandra Release - July 22, 2014

Visual Description: Four Supernova Remnants

Four different X-ray images from the Chandra X-ray Observatory of supernova remnants are shown in various colors including blue, purple, red, yellow and orange.  The first image at upper left is the Crab Nebula in pale blue and orange. The overall structure of the Crab Nebula can be described as an irregularly shaped nebulous bell.   In the Crab image, there is a bright, white dot in the center of the nebula, a complex network of filamentary structures that form a ring, as well as a jet.  The upper center panel shows G292.0+1.8, a bright, glowing supernova remnant that resembles a jellyfish swimming on its side. The colors of the image are predominantly orange, white, yellow and blue, with some green and purple hues present. Next, in the upper right panel, is the Chandra image of Tycho's supernova remnant that reveals a glowing, multi-colored sphere that appears to be suspended in the blackness of space. This structure is actually a remnant of a massive explosion that occurred over 400 years ago, when the star underwent a catastrophic event known as a supernova. The colors of the remnant have a slightly rainbow-like appearance, with blue, green, orange, yellow and purple hues dominating the image. The texture of the remnant can be described as somewhat mottled or uneven, with areas of varying brightness and contrast throughout the sphere, like bits of material are jumping out towards the viewer.  Finally, the bottom panel shows 3C58 in a wash of blue, red and violet, with intricate texture making up the remnant.  There is one central, noticeable bright spot in the image, with loops and protrusions around it.  The overall shape of the supernova remnant is irregular, with a croissant-like structure. Overall, the images of the Tycho and G292.0+1.8 supernova remnants show how Chandra can trace the expanding debris of an exploded star and the associated shock waves that rumble through interstellar space at speeds of millions of miles per hour. The images of the Crab Nebula and 3C58 show how extremely dense, rapidly rotating neutron stars produced when a massive star explodes can create clouds of high-energy particles light years across that glow brightly in X-rays.