Credit NASA/CXC/UCSC/L. Lopez et al.
These two supernova remnants are part of a new study from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory that shows how the shape of the remnant is connected to the way the progenitor star exploded. In this study, a team of researchers examined the shapes of 17 supernova remnants in both the Milky Way galaxy and a neighbor galaxy, the Large Magellanic Cloud.
The results revealed that one category of supernova explosion, known as "Type Ia," generated a very symmetric, circular remnant. This type of supernova is thought to be caused by a thermonuclear explosion of a white dwarf, and is often used by astronomers as a "standard candle" for measuring cosmic distances. The image in the right panel, the so-called Kepler supernova remnant, represents this type of supernova.
On the other hand, remnants tied to the "core collapse" family of supernova
explosions were distinctly more asymmetric, which is seen in the morphology of the G292.0+1.8 remnant (left). The research team measured asymmetry in two ways: how spherical or elliptical the supernova remnant was and how much one side of the remnant mirrors its opposite side. In G292, the asymmetry is subtle but can be seen in elongated features defined by the brightest emission (colored white).
Out of the 17 supernova remnants sampled, ten were independently classified as the core-collapse variety, while the remaining seven of them were classified as Type Ia. One of these, a remnant known as SNR 0548-70.4, was a bit of an "oddball". This one was considered a Type Ia based on its chemical abundances, but has the asymmetry of a core-collapse remnant.
Fast Facts for G292.0+1.8:
Scale: 11.5 arcmin across.
Category: Supernovas & Supernova Remnants
Coordinates: (J2000) RA 11h 24m 36.00s | Dec -59° 16' 00.00"
Constellation: Centaurus
Observation Dates: 6 observations between September - October 2006
Observation Time: 144 hours
Obs. IDs: 6677-6680, 8221, and 8447
Color Code: Energy: Red (low energy); Orange (medium-low energy); Green (medium energy); Blue (high energy)
Instrument: ACIS
References Lopez, L. et al, 2009 706 L106-L109; Park, S. et al, 2007, ApJ, 670 L121-L124
Distance Estimate: 20,000 light years
Fast Facts for Kepler's Supernova Remnant:
Scale: 5 arcmin across.
Category: Supernovas & Supernova Remnants
Coordinates: (J2000) RA 17h 30m 40.80s | Dec -21° 29' 11.00"
Constellation: Ophiuchus
Observation Dates: 6 observations between April - August 2006
Observation Time 208 hours
Obs. IDs 6714-18, 7366
Color Code: Energy: Red (low energy);Yellow/Green (medium energy); Blue (high energy)
Instrument: ACIS
Also Known As: SN 1604, G004.5+06.8, V 843 Ophiuchi
References: Lopez, L. et al, 2009 706 L106-L109; Park, S. et al, 2007, ApJ, 670 L121-L124
Distance Estimate: 13,000 light years
