Tychos Supernova Remnant in Xray
Explanation:
What star created this huge puffball?
What's pictured is the hot expanding nebula of
Tycho's supernova remnant, the result of a stellar explosion
first recorded over 400 years ago by the famous astronomer
Tycho Brahe.
The
featured image
is a composite of three
X-ray
colors taken by the orbiting
Chandra X-ray Observatory.
The
expanding gas cloud is extremely hot,
while slightly different expansion speeds have given the cloud a
puffy appearance.
Although the star that created
SN 1572,
is likely completely gone, a star dubbed
Tycho G,
too dim to be
discerned here,
is thought to be a companion.
Finding progenitor remnants of
Tycho's supernova is particularly important because the
supernova
is of Type Ia, an important rung in the
distance ladder that calibrates the
scale of the visible universe.
The peak brightness of
Type Ia supernovas is thought to be well understood,
making them quite valuable in exploring the relationship between
faintness and farness in the distant universe.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
