Credit: NASA/EIT/W.Waldron, J.Cassinelli

The X-ray spectrum of the O-star Zeta Orionis taken by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory reveals clues about the structure of massive stars. Chandra's spectral data suggest that such massive O-stars may have magnetic loop structures on their surfaces similar to those found on the Sun. The color-coded CCD image to the upper right shows that Zeta Orionis is a binary star system. The HETG spectra was taken from the larger "A" component.

Provider: Chandra X-ray Observatory

Image Source: http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2000/1078/

Curator: Chandra X-ray Observatory, Cambridge, MA, USA

Image Use Policy: http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/image_use.html