Supernova Remnant Video from NASA's Chandra Is Decades in Making
4 months ago
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- #NASA
- #supernova
- A new video shows the evolution of Kepler’s Supernova Remnant using Chandra X-ray Observatory data from 2000 to 2025.
- Kepler’s Supernova Remnant, first observed in 1604, resulted from a Type Ia supernova caused by a white dwarf exceeding critical mass.
- The remnant is located 17,000 light-years from Earth and glows in X-ray light due to heated debris.
- The video reveals expansion speeds: 13.8 million mph (2% light speed) at the bottom and 4 million mph (0.5% light speed) at the top.
- Speed differences are due to varying gas densities in the surrounding environment.
- Researchers studied the blast wave’s width and speed to understand the explosion and its surroundings.
- The findings were presented at the 247th meeting of the American Astronomical Society.
- Supernova remnants provide insights into cosmic history and the formation of new stars and planets.
- Chandra’s longevity enabled the longest-spanning timelapse video of a supernova remnant to date.