A Super-Efficient Particle Accelerator

Chandra_429_1024

chandra_429 June 26th, 2009

Credit: Optical: ESO/E. Helder; X-ray: NASA/CXC/Univ. of Utrecht/J.Vink et al.

This composite image of X-ray data from Chandra (blue) and optical data from the Very Large Telescope (red) shows part of the roughly circular supernova remnant known as RCW 86. New details about the role of supernova remnants as the Milky Way's super-efficient particle accelerators have emerged thanks to this combined study. Astronomers have shown that the shock wave visible in this area is very efficient at accelerating particles and the energy used in this process matches the number of cosmic rays observed on Earth.

Provider: Chandra X-ray Observatory

Image Source: http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2009/rcw86/

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

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

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Image Details

Image Type
Observation
Object Name
RCW 86 G315.4-2.1
Subject - Milky Way
Nebula > Type > Supernova Remnant

Distance

Universescale1
8,200 light years

Position Details

Position (ICRS)
RA = 14h 40m 45.0s
DEC = -62° 40’ 0.0”
Constellation
Centaurus

Color Mapping

  Telescope Spectral Band Wavelength
Blue Chandra (ACIS) X-ray -
Red VLT Optical -
Chandra_429_1280
×
ID
429
Subject Category
B.4.1.4  
Subject Name
RCW 86, G315.4-2.1
Credits
Optical: ESO/E. Helder; X-ray: NASA/CXC/Univ. of Utrecht/J.Vink et al.
Release Date
2009-06-26
Lightyears
8,200
Redshift
8,200
Reference Url
http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2009/rcw86/
Type
Observation
Image Quality
Good
Distance Notes
Facility
Chandra, VLT
Instrument
ACIS
Color Assignment
Blue, Red
Band
X-ray, Optical
Bandpass
Central Wavelength
Start Time
Integration Time
Dataset ID
1993, -
Notes
Coordinate Frame
ICRS
Equinox
J2000
Reference Value
220.1875, -62.666667
Reference Dimension
Reference Pixel
Scale
Rotation
Coordinate System Projection:
Quality
Position
FITS Header
Notes
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
Publisher ID
chandra
Resource ID
rcw86.tif
Metadata Date
2012-03-29T12:11:56-04:00
Metadata Version
1.2
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Detailed color mapping information coming soon...

×
Universescalefull
8,200 light years

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