Chandra X-Ray

A selection of images released to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Chandra X-ray Observatory. X-ray: NASA/CXC/UMass/D. Wang et al.; Radio: SARAO/MeerKAT

Gallery Chandra X-ray Observatory marks 20th anniversary with new astro images

This image from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory shows the location of different elements in the Cassiopeia A supernova remnant including silicon (red), sulfur (yellow), calcium (green) and iron (purple). Each of these elements produces X-rays within narrow energy ranges, allowing maps of their location to be created. The blast wave from the explosion is seen as the blue outer ring. Astronomers study supernova remnants to better understand how stars produce and then disseminate many of the elements on Earth and in the cosmos at large.

Gravitational waves at galaxy edges

Cassiopeia A; the remnants of an exploded star. Studying objects like these can teach astronomers how stars distribute essential elements throughout the Universe. Image Credit: NASA/CXC/SAO

Exploded star study exposes essential elements

IC10-galaxy-gravitational-waves-MAIN

Potential gravitational waves found in galaxy

These images contain X-ray evidence from Chandra that a clump of stellar material has been jettisoned away from a double star system at incredibly high speeds. Researchers think that the pulsar knocked out the chunk of debris, which spans over a hundred times the size of the Solar System, when it collided with the disk around the massive star while traveling in its elliptical orbit. This trio of images shows Chandra observations taken between December 2011 and February 2014. The bright source in the center of these images is the binary system, while the smaller point-like source to the lower right seen in the second two observations is the clump that has been dislodged.

Pulsar punches hole in companion star disc