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Cygnus Loop Supernova Blast Wave

Cygnus Loop Supernova Blast Wave


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Cygnus Loop Supernova Blast Wave

This is an image of a small portion of the Cygnus Loop supernova remnant, which marks the edge of a bubble-like, expanding blast wave from a colossal stellar explosion, occurring about 15, 000 years ago. The HST image shows the structure behind the shock waves, allowing astronomers for the first time to directly compare the actual structure of the shock with theoretical model calculations. Besides supernova remnants, these shock models are important in understanding a wide range of astrophysical phenomena, from winds in newly-formed stars to cataclysmic stellar outbursts. The supernova blast is slamming into tenuous clouds of insterstellar gas. This collision heats and compresses the gas, causing it to glow. The shock thus acts as a searchlight revealing the structure of the interstellar medium. The detailed HST image shows the blast wave overrunning dense clumps of gas, which despite HSTs high resolution, cannot be resolved. This means that the clumps of gas must be small enough to fit inside our solar system, making them relatively small structures by interstellar standards. A bluish ribbon of light stretching left to right across the picture might be a knot of gas ejected by the supernova; this interstellar " bullet" traveling over three million miles per hour (5 million kilometres) is just catching up with the shock front, which has slowed down by ploughing into interstellar material. The Cygnus Loop appears as a faint ring of glowing gases about three degrees across (six times the diameter of the full Moon), located in the northern constellation, Cygnus the Swan. The supernova remnant is within the plane of our Milky Way galaxy and is 2, 600 light-years away. The photo is a combination of separate images taken in three colors, oxygen atoms (blue) emit light at temperatures of 30, 000 to 60, 000 degrees Celsius (50, 000 to 100, 000 degrees Farenheit). Hydrogen atoms (green) arise throughout the region of shocked gas. Sulfur atoms (red) form when the gas cools to around 10, 000 degrees Celsius (18, 000 degrees Farenheit)

Space Image feature a selection of NASA's incredible imagery

Media ID 635219

© NASA

Hubble Space Telescope Galaxy Milky Way Supernova


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EDITORS COMMENTS
This print showcases a mesmerizing sight from the depths of space - the Cygnus Loop Supernova Blast Wave. This image captures just a small portion of the colossal stellar explosion that occurred approximately 15, 000 years ago. The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) has allowed astronomers to directly compare the actual structure of this shock wave with theoretical models for the first time. The blast wave is seen colliding with delicate clouds of interstellar gas, causing them to heat up and emit a beautiful glow. This collision acts as a searchlight, revealing intricate details about the interstellar medium. Despite its high resolution, even HST cannot resolve dense clumps of gas being overrun by the blast wave, indicating their relatively small size compared to other structures in space. A striking bluish ribbon stretches across the image from left to right - possibly an interstellar bullet ejected by the supernova traveling at mind-boggling speeds exceeding three million miles per hour. The Cygnus Loop itself appears as a faint ring of glowing gases spanning three degrees in diameter within our Milky Way galaxy. To create this stunning visual representation, separate images were taken in three colors: blue represents oxygen atoms emitting light at scorching temperatures between 30, 000 and 60, 000 degrees Celsius; green signifies hydrogen atoms present throughout shocked gas regions; and red indicates sulfur atoms forming when gas cools down to around 10, 000 degrees Celsius. This awe-inspiring photograph not only reveals breathtaking cosmic beauty but also provides valuable insights into various astrophysical phenomena beyond supernova remnants – from newborn star winds to cataclysmic stellar outbursts.

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