NASA's Chandra Reveals Origin of Key Cosmic Explosions

Chandra_447_1024

chandra_447 February 17th, 2010

Credit: X-ray (NASA/CXC/MPA/M.Gilfanov & A.Bogdan), Infrared (NASA/JPL-Caltech/SSC), Optical (DSS)

This composite image of M31 (a.k.a. the Andromeda galaxy) contains X-rays from Chandra (gold), optical emission (light blue), and infrared data (red). Seen in the inset box, the Chandra data suggest that the main trigger for so-called Type Ia supernovas in this and five other elliptical galaxies is the merger of two white dwarf stars. Type Ia supernovas are important objects used to measure vast cosmic distances.

Provider: Chandra X-ray Observatory

Image Source: http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2010/type1a/

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

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

Image Details

Image Type
Observation
Object Name
M31
Subject - Local Universe
Star > Evolutionary Stage > Supernova
Galaxy > Type > Spiral
Galaxy > Activity > Starburst

Distance

Universescale2
2,900,000 light years
Chandra_447_128
 

Position Details

Position (ICRS)
RA = 0h 42m 44.4s
DEC = 41° 16’ 9.2”
Orientation
North is 1.9° CCW
Field of View
59.9 x 59.9 arcminutes
Constellation
Andromeda

Color Mapping

  Telescope Spectral Band Wavelength
Orange Chandra (ACIS) X-ray (X-ray) 867.2 pm
Cyan DSS (DSS2B) Optical (B-band) -
Red Spitzer (IRAC) Infrared (Mid-IR) 8.0 µm
Image includes pullout, colors refer to main image.
Spectrum_xray1w
Orange
Red
Chandra_447_1280
×
ID
447
Subject Category
C.3.1.8   C.5.1.1   C.5.3.3  
Subject Name
M31
Credits
X-ray (NASA/CXC/MPA/M.Gilfanov & A.Bogdan), Infrared (NASA/JPL-Caltech/SSC), Optical (DSS)
Release Date
2010-02-17
Lightyears
2,900,000.0
Redshift
2,900,000.0
Reference Url
http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2010/type1a/
Type
Observation
Image Quality
Good
Distance Notes
Facility
Chandra, DSS, Spitzer
Instrument
ACIS, DSS2B, IRAC
Color Assignment
Orange, Cyan, Red
Band
X-ray, Optical, Infrared
Bandpass
X-ray, B-band, Mid-IR
Central Wavelength
0.8672, -, 8000
Start Time
Integration Time
Dataset ID
Notes
I
Coordinate Frame
ICRS
Equinox
J2000
Reference Value
10.684796, 41.269236, 10.6824277, 41.2701375
Reference Dimension
3527, 3527, 3600.0, 3593.0
Reference Pixel
1764, 1764, 1801.0, 1797.5
Scale
-2.83195252079497e-04, 2.83142800543772e-04, 0.000204828, 0.00020482836
Rotation
1.9359099528274
Coordinate System Projection:
TAN
Quality
Full
FITS Header
Notes
WCS retrieved using CXCs PinpointWCS
Creator (Curator)
Chandra X-ray Observatory
URL
http://chandra.harvard.edu
Name
Chandra X-ray Observatory Center
Email
cxcpub@cfa.harvard.edu
Telephone
617.496.7941
Address
60 Garden St.
City
Cambridge
State/Province
MA
Postal Code
02138
Country
USA
Rights
http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/image_use.html
Publisher
Chandra X-ray Observatory Center
Publisher ID
chandra
Resource ID
type1a.tif
Metadata Date
2011-12-05
Metadata Version
1.2
×

 

Detailed color mapping information coming soon...

×
Universescalefull
2,900,000 light years

Providers | Sign In