Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center; X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Optical: NASA/ESA/STScI; IR: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI/Milisavljevic et al., NASA/JPL/CalTech; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/J. Schmidt and K. Arcand\r
Alt text: The Cassiopeia A supernova remnant with the XRISM Resolve fields of view\r
Image description: Supernova remnant Cassiopeia A appears as a large circular object outlined by electric blue filaments, set against a black background. Strings of vibrant colors weave throughout, with blue representing Chandra data, red, green, and blue representing Webb data, and Hubble data showing a multitude of stars that dot the view. Two nearly square grids are laid on top of the remnant slightly overlapping. The upper grid has six squares filled yellow, representing weaker evidence for potassium. In the opposite corner of that grid, five squares are filled green, representing a positive potassium detection. The lower grid has six boxes filled green in a wide M-like shape. The image is labeled “North” at the top center, “West” on the right, and “Southeast” to the left.", "items": [ { "id": 502925, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1159931, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014900/a014933/cas_a_with_resolve_1.png", "filename": "cas_a_with_resolve_1.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Observations of the Cassiopeia A supernova remnant by the Resolve instrument aboard the NASA-JAXA XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) spacecraft revealed strong evidence for potassium (green squares) in the southeast and northern parts of the remnant. Grids superposed on a multiwavelength image of the remnant represent the fields of view of two Resolve measurements made in December 2023. Each square represents one pixel of Resolve’s detector. Weaker evidence of potassium (yellow squares) in the west suggests that the original star may have had underlying asymmetries before it exploded. \rCredit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center; X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Optical: NASA/ESA/STScI; IR: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI/Milisavljevic et al., NASA/JPL/CalTech; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/J. Schmidt and K. Arcand\rAlt text: The Cassiopeia A supernova remnant with the XRISM Resolve fields of view\rImage description: Supernova remnant Cassiopeia A appears as a large circular object outlined by electric blue filaments, set against a black background. Strings of vibrant colors weave throughout, with blue representing Chandra data, red, green, and blue representing Webb data, and Hubble data showing a multitude of stars that dot the view. Two nearly square grids are laid on top of the remnant slightly overlapping. The upper grid has six squares filled yellow, representing weaker evidence for potassium. In the opposite corner of that grid, five squares are filled green, representing a positive potassium detection. The lower grid has six boxes filled green in a wide M-like shape. The image is labeled “North” at the top center, “West” on the right, and “Southeast” to the left.", "width": 800, "height": 645, "pixels": 516000 } }, { "id": 502927, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1159933, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014900/a014933/cas_a_with_resolve_1_print.jpg", "filename": "cas_a_with_resolve_1_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Observations of the Cassiopeia A supernova remnant by the Resolve instrument aboard the NASA-JAXA XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) spacecraft revealed strong evidence for potassium (green squares) in the southeast and northern parts of the remnant. Grids superposed on a multiwavelength image of the remnant represent the fields of view of two Resolve measurements made in December 2023. Each square represents one pixel of Resolve’s detector. Weaker evidence of potassium (yellow squares) in the west suggests that the original star may have had underlying asymmetries before it exploded. \rCredit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center; X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Optical: NASA/ESA/STScI; IR: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI/Milisavljevic et al., NASA/JPL/CalTech; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/J. Schmidt and K. Arcand\rAlt text: The Cassiopeia A supernova remnant with the XRISM Resolve fields of view\rImage description: Supernova remnant Cassiopeia A appears as a large circular object outlined by electric blue filaments, set against a black background. Strings of vibrant colors weave throughout, with blue representing Chandra data, red, green, and blue representing Webb data, and Hubble data showing a multitude of stars that dot the view. Two nearly square grids are laid on top of the remnant slightly overlapping. The upper grid has six squares filled yellow, representing weaker evidence for potassium. In the opposite corner of that grid, five squares are filled green, representing a positive potassium detection. The lower grid has six boxes filled green in a wide M-like shape. The image is labeled “North” at the top center, “West” on the right, and “Southeast” to the left.", "width": 1024, "height": 825, "pixels": 844800 } }, { "id": 502928, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1159934, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014900/a014933/cas_a_with_resolve_1_searchweb.png", "filename": "cas_a_with_resolve_1_searchweb.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Observations of the Cassiopeia A supernova remnant by the Resolve instrument aboard the NASA-JAXA XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) spacecraft revealed strong evidence for potassium (green squares) in the southeast and northern parts of the remnant. Grids superposed on a multiwavelength image of the remnant represent the fields of view of two Resolve measurements made in December 2023. Each square represents one pixel of Resolve’s detector. Weaker evidence of potassium (yellow squares) in the west suggests that the original star may have had underlying asymmetries before it exploded. \rCredit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center; X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Optical: NASA/ESA/STScI; IR: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI/Milisavljevic et al., NASA/JPL/CalTech; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/J. Schmidt and K. Arcand\rAlt text: The Cassiopeia A supernova remnant with the XRISM Resolve fields of view\rImage description: Supernova remnant Cassiopeia A appears as a large circular object outlined by electric blue filaments, set against a black background. Strings of vibrant colors weave throughout, with blue representing Chandra data, red, green, and blue representing Webb data, and Hubble data showing a multitude of stars that dot the view. Two nearly square grids are laid on top of the remnant slightly overlapping. The upper grid has six squares filled yellow, representing weaker evidence for potassium. In the opposite corner of that grid, five squares are filled green, representing a positive potassium detection. The lower grid has six boxes filled green in a wide M-like shape. The image is labeled “North” at the top center, “West” on the right, and “Southeast” to the left.", "width": 320, "height": 180, "pixels": 57600 } }, { "id": 502929, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1159935, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014900/a014933/cas_a_with_resolve_1_web.png", "filename": "cas_a_with_resolve_1_web.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Observations of the Cassiopeia A supernova remnant by the Resolve instrument aboard the NASA-JAXA XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) spacecraft revealed strong evidence for potassium (green squares) in the southeast and northern parts of the remnant. Grids superposed on a multiwavelength image of the remnant represent the fields of view of two Resolve measurements made in December 2023. Each square represents one pixel of Resolve’s detector. Weaker evidence of potassium (yellow squares) in the west suggests that the original star may have had underlying asymmetries before it exploded. \rCredit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center; X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Optical: NASA/ESA/STScI; IR: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI/Milisavljevic et al., NASA/JPL/CalTech; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/J. Schmidt and K. Arcand\rAlt text: The Cassiopeia A supernova remnant with the XRISM Resolve fields of view\rImage description: Supernova remnant Cassiopeia A appears as a large circular object outlined by electric blue filaments, set against a black background. Strings of vibrant colors weave throughout, with blue representing Chandra data, red, green, and blue representing Webb data, and Hubble data showing a multitude of stars that dot the view. Two nearly square grids are laid on top of the remnant slightly overlapping. The upper grid has six squares filled yellow, representing weaker evidence for potassium. In the opposite corner of that grid, five squares are filled green, representing a positive potassium detection. The lower grid has six boxes filled green in a wide M-like shape. The image is labeled “North” at the top center, “West” on the right, and “Southeast” to the left.", "width": 320, "height": 258, "pixels": 82560 } }, { "id": 502930, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1159936, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014900/a014933/cas_a_with_resolve_1_thm.png", "filename": "cas_a_with_resolve_1_thm.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Observations of the Cassiopeia A supernova remnant by the Resolve instrument aboard the NASA-JAXA XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) spacecraft revealed strong evidence for potassium (green squares) in the southeast and northern parts of the remnant. Grids superposed on a multiwavelength image of the remnant represent the fields of view of two Resolve measurements made in December 2023. Each square represents one pixel of Resolve’s detector. Weaker evidence of potassium (yellow squares) in the west suggests that the original star may have had underlying asymmetries before it exploded. \rCredit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center; X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Optical: NASA/ESA/STScI; IR: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI/Milisavljevic et al., NASA/JPL/CalTech; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/J. Schmidt and K. Arcand\rAlt text: The Cassiopeia A supernova remnant with the XRISM Resolve fields of view\rImage description: Supernova remnant Cassiopeia A appears as a large circular object outlined by electric blue filaments, set against a black background. Strings of vibrant colors weave throughout, with blue representing Chandra data, red, green, and blue representing Webb data, and Hubble data showing a multitude of stars that dot the view. Two nearly square grids are laid on top of the remnant slightly overlapping. The upper grid has six squares filled yellow, representing weaker evidence for potassium. In the opposite corner of that grid, five squares are filled green, representing a positive potassium detection. The lower grid has six boxes filled green in a wide M-like shape. The image is labeled “North” at the top center, “West” on the right, and “Southeast” to the left.", "width": 80, "height": 40, "pixels": 3200 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 379230, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14933/#media_group_379230", "widget": "Basic text with HTML", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "For the first time, scientists have made a clear X-ray detection of chlorine and potassium in the wreckage of a star using data from the Japan-led XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) spacecraft.
The Resolve instrument aboard XRISM, pronounced “crism,” discovered these elements in a supernova remnant called Cassiopeia A or Cas A, for short. The expanding cloud of debris is located about 11,000 light-years away in the northern constellation Cassiopeia.
Stars produce almost all the elements in the universe heavier than hydrogen and helium through nuclear reactions. Heat and pressure fuse lighter ones, like carbon, into progressively heavier ones, like neon, creating onion-like layers of materials in stellar interiors.
Nuclear reactions also take place during explosive events like supernovae, which occur when stars run out of fuel, collapse, and explode. Elemental abundances and locations in the wreckage can, respectively, tell scientists about the star and its explosion, even after hundreds or thousands of years.
Some elements — like oxygen, carbon, and neon — are more common than others and are easier to detect and trace back to a particular part of the star’s life.
Other elements — like chlorine and potassium — are more elusive. Since scientists have less data about them, it’s more difficult to model where in the star they formed. These rarer elements still play important roles in life on Earth. Potassium, for example, helps the cells and muscles in our bodies function, so astronomers are interested in tracing its cosmic origins.
The roughly circular Cas A supernova remnant spans about 10 light-years, is over 340 years old, and has a superdense neutron star at its center — the remains of the original star's core. Scientists using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory had previously identified signatures of iron, silicon, sulfur, and other elements within Cas A.
In the hunt for other elements, astronomers used the Resolve instrument aboard XRISM to look at the remnant twice in December 2023. The researchers were able to pick out the signatures for chlorine and potassium, determining that the remnant contains ratios much higher than expected. Resolve also detected a possible indication of phosphorous, which was previously discovered in Cas A by infrared missions.
The astronomers think stellar activity could have disrupted the layers of nuclear fusion inside the star before it exploded. That kind of upheaval might have led to persistent, large-scale churning of material inside the star that created conditions where chlorine and potassium formed in abundance.
The scientists also mapped the Resolve observations onto an image of Cas A captured by Chandra and showed that the elements were concentrated in the southeast and northern parts of the remnant.
This lopsided distribution may mean that the star itself had underlying asymmetries before it exploded, which Chandra data has also indicated.", "items": [], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 379229, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14933/#media_group_379229", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "The Cassiopeia A supernova remnant glows in X-ray, visible, and infrared light in this image that combines data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and Hubble, Webb, and Spitzer space telescopes. A new study by the XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) spacecraft has made the first-ever X-ray detections of chlorine and potassium from the wreckage. Known as Cas A for short, the remnant is about 11,000 light-years away in the northern constellation Cassiopeia and is around 340 years old. \r
Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Optical: NASA/ESA/STScI; IR: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI/Milisavljevic et al., NASA/JPL/CalTech; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/J. Schmidt and K. Arcand\r
Alt text: The Cassiopeia A supernova remnant\r
Image description: This image of Cassiopeia A resembles a disk of electric light with red clouds, glowing white streaks, red and orange flames, and an area near the center of the remnant resembling a somewhat circular region of green lightning. X-rays from Chandra are blue and reveal hot gas, mostly debris from the destroyed star, that includes elements like silicon and iron. X-rays are also present as thin arcs in the outer regions of the remnant. Infrared data from Webb is red, green, and blue. Webb highlights infrared emission from dust heated by the hot gas seen by Chandra, as well as from much cooler supernova debris. The softer, outermost parts of the image include data from Spitzer in red, green, and blue. Hubble data shows a multitude of stars that permeate the field of view.", "items": [ { "id": 502926, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1159932, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014900/a014933/casa.jpg", "filename": "casa.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "The Cassiopeia A supernova remnant glows in X-ray, visible, and infrared light in this image that combines data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and Hubble, Webb, and Spitzer space telescopes. A new study by the XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) spacecraft has made the first-ever X-ray detections of chlorine and potassium from the wreckage. Known as Cas A for short, the remnant is about 11,000 light-years away in the northern constellation Cassiopeia and is around 340 years old. \rCredit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Optical: NASA/ESA/STScI; IR: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI/Milisavljevic et al., NASA/JPL/CalTech; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/J. Schmidt and K. Arcand\rAlt text: The Cassiopeia A supernova remnant\rImage description: This image of Cassiopeia A resembles a disk of electric light with red clouds, glowing white streaks, red and orange flames, and an area near the center of the remnant resembling a somewhat circular region of green lightning. X-rays from Chandra are blue and reveal hot gas, mostly debris from the destroyed star, that includes elements like silicon and iron. X-rays are also present as thin arcs in the outer regions of the remnant. Infrared data from Webb is red, green, and blue. Webb highlights infrared emission from dust heated by the hot gas seen by Chandra, as well as from much cooler supernova debris. The softer, outermost parts of the image include data from Spitzer in red, green, and blue. Hubble data shows a multitude of stars that permeate the field of view.", "width": 864, "height": 697, "pixels": 602208 } }, { "id": 502931, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1159937, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014900/a014933/casa_print.jpg", "filename": "casa_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "The Cassiopeia A supernova remnant glows in X-ray, visible, and infrared light in this image that combines data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and Hubble, Webb, and Spitzer space telescopes. A new study by the XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) spacecraft has made the first-ever X-ray detections of chlorine and potassium from the wreckage. Known as Cas A for short, the remnant is about 11,000 light-years away in the northern constellation Cassiopeia and is around 340 years old. \rCredit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Optical: NASA/ESA/STScI; IR: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI/Milisavljevic et al., NASA/JPL/CalTech; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/J. Schmidt and K. Arcand\rAlt text: The Cassiopeia A supernova remnant\rImage description: This image of Cassiopeia A resembles a disk of electric light with red clouds, glowing white streaks, red and orange flames, and an area near the center of the remnant resembling a somewhat circular region of green lightning. X-rays from Chandra are blue and reveal hot gas, mostly debris from the destroyed star, that includes elements like silicon and iron. X-rays are also present as thin arcs in the outer regions of the remnant. Infrared data from Webb is red, green, and blue. Webb highlights infrared emission from dust heated by the hot gas seen by Chandra, as well as from much cooler supernova debris. The softer, outermost parts of the image include data from Spitzer in red, green, and blue. Hubble data shows a multitude of stars that permeate the field of view.", "width": 1024, "height": 826, "pixels": 845824 } }, { "id": 502932, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1159938, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014900/a014933/casa_searchweb.png", "filename": "casa_searchweb.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "The Cassiopeia A supernova remnant glows in X-ray, visible, and infrared light in this image that combines data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and Hubble, Webb, and Spitzer space telescopes. A new study by the XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) spacecraft has made the first-ever X-ray detections of chlorine and potassium from the wreckage. Known as Cas A for short, the remnant is about 11,000 light-years away in the northern constellation Cassiopeia and is around 340 years old. \rCredit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Optical: NASA/ESA/STScI; IR: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI/Milisavljevic et al., NASA/JPL/CalTech; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/J. Schmidt and K. Arcand\rAlt text: The Cassiopeia A supernova remnant\rImage description: This image of Cassiopeia A resembles a disk of electric light with red clouds, glowing white streaks, red and orange flames, and an area near the center of the remnant resembling a somewhat circular region of green lightning. X-rays from Chandra are blue and reveal hot gas, mostly debris from the destroyed star, that includes elements like silicon and iron. X-rays are also present as thin arcs in the outer regions of the remnant. Infrared data from Webb is red, green, and blue. Webb highlights infrared emission from dust heated by the hot gas seen by Chandra, as well as from much cooler supernova debris. The softer, outermost parts of the image include data from Spitzer in red, green, and blue. Hubble data shows a multitude of stars that permeate the field of view.", "width": 320, "height": 180, "pixels": 57600 } }, { "id": 502933, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1159939, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014900/a014933/casa_web.png", "filename": "casa_web.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "The Cassiopeia A supernova remnant glows in X-ray, visible, and infrared light in this image that combines data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and Hubble, Webb, and Spitzer space telescopes. A new study by the XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) spacecraft has made the first-ever X-ray detections of chlorine and potassium from the wreckage. Known as Cas A for short, the remnant is about 11,000 light-years away in the northern constellation Cassiopeia and is around 340 years old. \rCredit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Optical: NASA/ESA/STScI; IR: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI/Milisavljevic et al., NASA/JPL/CalTech; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/J. Schmidt and K. Arcand\rAlt text: The Cassiopeia A supernova remnant\rImage description: This image of Cassiopeia A resembles a disk of electric light with red clouds, glowing white streaks, red and orange flames, and an area near the center of the remnant resembling a somewhat circular region of green lightning. X-rays from Chandra are blue and reveal hot gas, mostly debris from the destroyed star, that includes elements like silicon and iron. X-rays are also present as thin arcs in the outer regions of the remnant. Infrared data from Webb is red, green, and blue. Webb highlights infrared emission from dust heated by the hot gas seen by Chandra, as well as from much cooler supernova debris. The softer, outermost parts of the image include data from Spitzer in red, green, and blue. Hubble data shows a multitude of stars that permeate the field of view.", "width": 320, "height": 258, "pixels": 82560 } }, { "id": 502934, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1159940, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014900/a014933/casa_thm.png", "filename": "casa_thm.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "The Cassiopeia A supernova remnant glows in X-ray, visible, and infrared light in this image that combines data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and Hubble, Webb, and Spitzer space telescopes. A new study by the XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) spacecraft has made the first-ever X-ray detections of chlorine and potassium from the wreckage. Known as Cas A for short, the remnant is about 11,000 light-years away in the northern constellation Cassiopeia and is around 340 years old. \rCredit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Optical: NASA/ESA/STScI; IR: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI/Milisavljevic et al., NASA/JPL/CalTech; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/J. Schmidt and K. Arcand\rAlt text: The Cassiopeia A supernova remnant\rImage description: This image of Cassiopeia A resembles a disk of electric light with red clouds, glowing white streaks, red and orange flames, and an area near the center of the remnant resembling a somewhat circular region of green lightning. X-rays from Chandra are blue and reveal hot gas, mostly debris from the destroyed star, that includes elements like silicon and iron. X-rays are also present as thin arcs in the outer regions of the remnant. Infrared data from Webb is red, green, and blue. Webb highlights infrared emission from dust heated by the hot gas seen by Chandra, as well as from much cooler supernova debris. The softer, outermost parts of the image include data from Spitzer in red, green, and blue. Hubble data shows a multitude of stars that permeate the field of view.", "width": 80, "height": 40, "pixels": 3200 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 379231, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14933/#media_group_379231", "widget": "Basic text", "title": "For More Information", "caption": "", "description": "See [https://science.nasa.gov/missions/xrism/nasa-jaxa-xrism-finds-elemental-bounty-in-supernova-remnant/](https://science.nasa.gov/missions/xrism/nasa-jaxa-xrism-finds-elemental-bounty-in-supernova-remnant/)", "items": [], "extra_data": {} } ], "studio": "gms", "funding_sources": [ "PAO" ], "credits": [ { "role": "Producer", "people": [ { "name": "Sophia Roberts", "employer": "eMITS" }, { "name": "Francis Reddy", "employer": "University of Maryland College Park" } ] }, { "role": "Technical support", "people": [ { "name": "Aaron E. Lepsch", "employer": "ADNET Systems, Inc." } ] }, { "role": "Science writer", "people": [ { "name": "Jeanette Kazmierczak", "employer": "University of Maryland College Park" } ] } ], "missions": [ "Chandra X-Ray Observatory", "XRISM" ], "series": [ "Astrophysics Features", "Astrophysics Stills" ], "tapes": [], "papers": [ "Chlorine and Potassium Enrichment in the Cassiopeia A Supernova Remnant" ], "datasets": [], "nasa_science_categories": [ "Universe" ], "keywords": [ "Ast", "Astrophysics", "Chandra", "Neutron Star", "Space", "Star", "Supernova", "Universe", "X-ray", "XRISM" ], "recommended_pages": [], "related": [ { "id": 14968, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14968/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "XRISM Clocks Hot Wind of Galaxy M82", "description": "The Resolve instrument aboard the XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) spacecraft captured data revealing the velocity of the hot wind at the center of starburst galaxy M82. The energy range of iron emission lines show that the gas moves around 2 million miles (about 3 million kilometers) per hour. Inset: XRISM Xtend instrument’s image of M82.Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, JAXA/NASA, XRISM Collaboration et al. 2026Alt text: Spectrum and image of galaxy M82Image description: This image is labeled, “XRISM Resolve Measures the Hot Wind of Starburst Galaxy M82.” It shows a graph where the bottom is labeled, “X-ray energy (keV),” with a range from 2 to 9. The left side is labeled “X-ray brightness.” A squiggly white line starts near the bottom of the left side. Several peaks are labeled, including silicon, sulfur, argon, and calcium. Four peaks are identified as iron. In the upper right corner, a small inset shows an image that looks like a purple pansy with a yellow center. || v3_XRISM_Resolve_M82.jpg (4412x2993) [2.6 MB] || v3_XRISM_Resolve_M82_searchweb.png (320x180) [46.6 KB] || v3_XRISM_Resolve_M82_thm.png (80x40) [4.6 KB] || ", "release_date": "2026-03-25T12:00:00-04:00", "update_date": "2026-03-25T12:01:25-04:00", "main_image": { "id": 1202714, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014900/a014968/v3_XRISM_Resolve_M82_searchweb.png", "filename": "v3_XRISM_Resolve_M82_searchweb.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "The Resolve instrument aboard the XRISM (X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) spacecraft captured data revealing the velocity of the hot wind at the center of starburst galaxy M82. The energy range of iron emission lines show that the gas moves around 2 million miles (about 3 million kilometers) per hour. Inset: XRISM Xtend instrument’s image of M82.\r\rCredit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, JAXA/NASA, XRISM Collaboration et al. 2026\r\rAlt text: Spectrum and image of galaxy M82\r\rImage description: This image is labeled, “XRISM Resolve Measures the Hot Wind of Starburst Galaxy M82.” It shows a graph where the bottom is labeled, “X-ray energy (keV),” with a range from 2 to 9. The left side is labeled “X-ray brightness.” A squiggly white line starts near the bottom of the left side. Several peaks are labeled, including silicon, sulfur, argon, and calcium. Four peaks are identified as iron. In the upper right corner, a small inset shows an image that looks like a purple pansy with a yellow center.", "width": 320, "height": 180, "pixels": 57600 } }, { "id": 31288, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/31288/", "page_type": "Hyperwall Visual", "title": "Webb, Chandra, Hubble, and Spitzer Together Explore Cassiopeia A", "description": "For the first time astronomers have combined data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and James Webb Space Telescope to study the well-known supernova remnant Cassiopeia A (Cas A). This work has helped explain an unusual structure in the debris from the destroyed star called the “Green Monster”, first discovered in Webb data in April 2023. The research has also uncovered new details about the explosion that created Cas A about 340 years ago, from Earth’s perspective.A new composite image contains X-rays from Chandra (blue), infrared data from Webb (red, green, blue), and optical data from Hubble (red and white). The outer parts of the image also include infrared data from NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope (red, green and blue). The outline of the Green Monster can be seen by mousing over the image in the original feature, located here: chandra.cfa.harvard.edu/photo/2024/casa/.The Chandra data reveals hot gas, mostly from supernova debris from the destroyed star, including elements like silicon and iron. In the outer parts of Cas A the expanding blast wave is striking surrounding gas that was ejected by the star before the explosion. The X-rays are produced by energetic electrons spiraling around magnetic field lines in the blast wave. These electrons light up as thin arcs in the outer regions of Cas A, and in parts of the interior. Webb highlights infrared emission from dust that is warmed up because it is embedded in the hot gas seen by Chandra, and from much cooler supernova debris. The Hubble data shows stars in the field.Detailed analysis by the researchers found that filaments in the outer part of Cas A, from the blast wave, closely matched the X-ray properties of the Green Monster, including less iron and silicon than in the supernova debris. This interpretation is apparent from the color Chandra image, which shows that the colors inside the Green Monster’s outline best match with the colors of the blast wave rather than the debris with iron and silicon. The authors conclude that the Green Monster was created by a blast wave from the exploded star slamming into material surrounding it, supporting earlier suggestions from the Webb data alone.The debris from the explosion is seen by Chandra because it is heated to tens of millions of degrees by shock waves, akin to sonic booms from a supersonic plane. Webb can see some material that has not been affected by shock waves, what can be called “pristine” debris.Read more here: chandra.cfa.harvard.edu/photo/2024/casa/. || 53453268481_e80cfca2d4_o.jpg (4200x3386) [7.1 MB] || 53453268481_e80cfca2d4_o_searchweb.png (320x180) [121.1 KB] || 53453268481_e80cfca2d4_o_thm.png (80x40) [15.9 KB] || webb-chandra-hubble-and-spitzer-all-explore-cassiopeia-a-composite-all-4.hwshow || ", "release_date": "2024-06-13T00:00:00-04:00", "update_date": "2025-06-23T00:35:00.247479-04:00", "main_image": { "id": 1092945, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a030000/a031200/a031288/53453268481_e80cfca2d4_o_searchweb.png", "filename": "53453268481_e80cfca2d4_o_searchweb.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "For the first time astronomers have combined data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and James Webb Space Telescope to study the well-known supernova remnant Cassiopeia A (Cas A). This work has helped explain an unusual structure in the debris from the destroyed star called the “Green Monster”, first discovered in Webb data in April 2023. The research has also uncovered new details about the explosion that created Cas A about 340 years ago, from Earth’s perspective.A new composite image contains X-rays from Chandra (blue), infrared data from Webb (red, green, blue), and optical data from Hubble (red and white). The outer parts of the image also include infrared data from NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope (red, green and blue). The outline of the Green Monster can be seen by mousing over the image in the original feature, located here: chandra.cfa.harvard.edu/photo/2024/casa/.The Chandra data reveals hot gas, mostly from supernova debris from the destroyed star, including elements like silicon and iron. In the outer parts of Cas A the expanding blast wave is striking surrounding gas that was ejected by the star before the explosion. The X-rays are produced by energetic electrons spiraling around magnetic field lines in the blast wave. These electrons light up as thin arcs in the outer regions of Cas A, and in parts of the interior. Webb highlights infrared emission from dust that is warmed up because it is embedded in the hot gas seen by Chandra, and from much cooler supernova debris. The Hubble data shows stars in the field.Detailed analysis by the researchers found that filaments in the outer part of Cas A, from the blast wave, closely matched the X-ray properties of the Green Monster, including less iron and silicon than in the supernova debris. This interpretation is apparent from the color Chandra image, which shows that the colors inside the Green Monster’s outline best match with the colors of the blast wave rather than the debris with iron and silicon. The authors conclude that the Green Monster was created by a blast wave from the exploded star slamming into material surrounding it, supporting earlier suggestions from the Webb data alone.The debris from the explosion is seen by Chandra because it is heated to tens of millions of degrees by shock waves, akin to sonic booms from a supersonic plane. Webb can see some material that has not been affected by shock waves, what can be called “pristine” debris.Read more here: chandra.cfa.harvard.edu/photo/2024/casa/.", "width": 320, "height": 180, "pixels": 57600 } }, { "id": 14463, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14463/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "XRISM Mission Captures Unmatched Data With Just 36 Pixels", "description": "Watch to learn more about how the Resolve instrument aboard XRISM captures extraordinary data on the make-up of galaxy clusters, exploded stars, and more using only 36 pixels.Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight CenterMusic: \"Stop and Hide\" and \"Wading Through\" from Universal Production MusicWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available. || XRISM_36_Pixels_Still.jpg (1920x1080) [959.9 KB] || XRISM_36_Pixels_Still_searchweb.png (320x180) [94.7 KB] || XRISM_36_Pixels_Still_thm.png (80x40) [7.0 KB] || 14463_XRISM_36Pixels_Good.mp4 (1920x1080) [148.9 MB] || 14463_XRISM_36Pixels_Best.mp4 (1920x1080) [514.8 MB] || 14463_XRISM_36Pixels_Captions.en_US.srt [4.6 KB] || 14463_XRISM_36Pixels_Captions.en_US.vtt [4.4 KB] || 14463_XRISM_36Pixels_ProRes_1920x1080_2997.mov (1920x1080) [2.4 GB] || ", "release_date": "2024-04-30T11:00:00-04:00", "update_date": "2024-04-26T12:18:10.001194-04:00", "main_image": { "id": 1091669, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014400/a014463/XRISM_36_Pixels_Still.jpg", "filename": "XRISM_36_Pixels_Still.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Watch to learn more about how the Resolve instrument aboard XRISM captures extraordinary data on the make-up of galaxy clusters, exploded stars, and more using only 36 pixels.Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight CenterMusic: \"Stop and Hide\" and \"Wading Through\" from Universal Production MusicWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } } ], "sources": [], "products": [], "newer_versions": [], "older_versions": [], "alternate_versions": [] }