![\"Supernova](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/snr1181.jpg?w=2048\")
<\/figure>In the year 1181 a rare\u00a0supernova<\/a>\u00a0explosion appeared in the night sky, staying visible for 185 consecutive days. Historical records show that the supernova looked like a temporary \u2018star\u2019 in the constellation\u00a0Cassiopeia<\/a>\u00a0shining as bright as Saturn.<\/p>\n Ever since, scientists have tried to find the supernova\u2019s remnant. At first it was thought that this could be the nebula around the\u00a0pulsar<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 the dense core of a collapse star \u2014 named 3C 58. However closer investigations revealed that the pulsar is older than supernova 1181.<\/p>\n In the last decade, another contender was discovered; Pa 30 is a nearly circular nebula with a central star in the constellation Cassiopeia. It is pictured here combining images from several telescopes. This composite image uses data across the electromagnetic spectrum and shows a spectacular new view of the\u00a0supernova remnant<\/a>. This allows us to marvel at the same object that appeared in our ancestors\u2019 night sky more than 800 years ago.<\/p>\n X-ray<\/a>\u00a0observations by ESA\u2019s XMM-Newton (blue) show the full extent of the nebula and\u00a0NASA\u2019s Chandra X-ray Observatory<\/a>\u00a0(cyan) pinpoints its central source. The nebula is barely visible in\u00a0optical light<\/a>\u00a0but shines bright in\u00a0infrared light<\/a>, collected by NASA\u2019s Wide-field Infrared Space Explorer (red and pink). Interestingly, the radial structure in the image consists of heated sulfur that glows in visible light, observed with the ground-based Hiltner 2.4 m telescope at the MDM Observatory (green) in Arizona, USA, as do the stars in the background by Pan-STARRS (white) in Hawaii, USA.<\/p>\n Studies of the composition of the different parts of the remnant have led scientists to believe that it was formed in a thermonuclear explosion, and more precisely a special kind of supernova called a sub-luminous Type Iax event. During this event two white dwarf stars merged, and typically no remnant is expected for this kind of explosion. But incomplete explosions can leave a kind of \u2018zombie\u2019 star, such as the massive white dwarf star in this system. This very hot star, one of the hottest stars in the Milky Way (about 200 000 degrees Celsius), has a fast stellar wind with speeds up to 16,000 km\/h. The combination of the star and the nebula makes it a unique opportunity for studying such rare explosions.<\/p>\n The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory\u2019s Chandra X-ray Center controls science operations from Cambridge, Massachusetts, and flight operations from Burlington, Massachusetts.<\/p>\n Read more from NASA\u2019s Chandra X-ray Observatory.<\/a><\/p>\n For more Chandra images, multimedia and related materials, visit:<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission\/chandra-x-ray-observatory\/<\/a><\/p>\n This is a composite image of SNR 1181, the remains of an explosion hundreds of years ago caused by the merger of two stars.<\/p>\n A bright, multi-colored, spherical nebula sits in the middle of the canvas surrounded by a field of stars that appear as white dots. In the center of the nebula is a small point of aqua-colored light. This is the hot white dwarf star that was left behind after the likely merger of two smaller white dwarfs caused an explosion. From this single point of aqua light, several spectacular rays expand outward, resembling a single firework bursting in celebration in the night sky.<\/p>\n Megan Watzke<\/a> Jonathan Deal<\/a> Powered by WPeMatico<\/a><\/small><\/p>\n Get The Details…<\/a> In the year 1181 a rare\u00a0supernova\u00a0explosion appeared in the night sky, staying visible for 185 consecutive days. Historical records show that the supernova looked like a temporary \u2018star\u2019 in the constellation\u00a0Cassiopeia\u00a0shining as bright as Saturn. Ever since, scientists have tried to find the supernova\u2019s remnant. At first it was thought that this could be the [\u2026] Continue reading Visual Description:<\/strong><\/h2>\n
News Media Contact<\/h2>\n
Chandra X-ray Center
Cambridge, Mass.
617-496-7998<\/p>\n
Marshall Space Flight Center
Huntsville, Ala.
256-544-0034<\/p>\n
\nLee Mohon <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"