Astronomers Capture Cosmic Hand Hitting a Wall - Watch Blast Wave Moving at 9 Million MPH

[Kid Berwyn]

5. Amazing Light

Last edited Mon Jun 28, 2021, 11:54 PM - Edit history (1)

Astronomers have captured the movement of the expanding remains of an exploded star. Chandra data taken over 14 years show a blast wave and debris moving away from the site of the explosion. The graphics present the entire hand-shaped nebula observed by Chandra, which was produced by the pulsar left behind after the explosion. The close-ups highlight movement in the explosion’s blast wave in a region located near one of the “fingertips”. The fixed squares enclose clumps of magnesium and neon that likely formed in the star before it exploded and shot into space once the star blew up. Astronomers estimate that it has slowed down from the initial explosion after striking a neighboring gas cloud, but is still moving at nearly 9 million miles per hour. Credit: Credit: NASA/SAO/NCSU/Borkowski et al.

Thanks for a great OP, SheltieLover!

Sci Tech Daily — https://scitechdaily.com/astronomers-capture-cosmic-hand-hitting-a-wall-watch-blast-wave-moving-at-9-million-mph/amp/