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"description": "See the following sources:\n\n* [https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/nasa-telescopes-chase-down-green-monster-in-stars-debris/](https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/nasa-telescopes-chase-down-green-monster-in-stars-debris/)\n* [https://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2024/casa/](https://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2024/casa/)",
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"url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/31353/",
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"title": "Supermassive Black Holes",
"description": "In this video NuSTAR (Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array) lead scientist Peter Boorman explains how the NuSTAR penetrates thick gas and dust to reveal black holes that other telescopes can’t see. \r\n\r\nThis video was prepared for use on the NASA Hyperwall from content originally published at [https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/videos/using-x-ray-eyes-to-find-hidden-black-holes-nasas-nustar-mission/](https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/videos/using-x-ray-eyes-to-find-hidden-black-holes-nasas-nustar-mission/)",
"release_date": "2025-06-09T18:59:59-04:00",
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"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 || ",
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