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> Supernova remnant 0540-69.3 in Dorado

Supernova remnant 0540-69.3 in Dorado

author: NASA/CXC/SAO/Novapix

reference: a-snv12-00100

Image Size 300 DPI: 20 * 20 cm

The X-Ray image of SNR 0540-69.3 taken by Chandra space telescope shows two aspects of the enormous power released when a massive star explodes. An implosion crushed material into an extremely dense neutron star, triggering an explosion that sent a shock wave rumbling through space at speeds in excess of 5 million miles per hour.The image reveals a central intense white blaze of high-energy particles about 3 light years across created by the rapidly rotating neutron star, or pulsar. Surrounding the white blaze is a shell of hot gas 40 light years in diameter that marks the outward progress of the supernova shock wave.

Keywords for this photo:

1999 - 2004 - ASTRONOMY - CHANDRA - EVOLUTION - NEUTRON STAR - PULSAR - SNR 0540-69.3 - SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE - STAR - SUPERNOVA - SUPERNOVA REMNANT - X - X-RAY -