In 1993, a star in the galaxy [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…] M [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…]81 exploded. Above is a picture of the hot material ejected by this supernova [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…] explosion. The picture was taken in X-rays [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…] with the Advanced Satellite for Cosmology and Astrophysics [ http://heasarc.gsfc…] (ASCA [ http://heasarc.gsfc…]). Since M81 is a relatively nearby galaxy, it can be examined in close detail by observatories on or near the Earth [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…]. Since the Earth's atmosphere [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…] protects the surface from interstellar X-radiation, the above photo [ http://pao.gsfc.nas…] was taken from space. Studying the nature and distribution of the X-rays has allowed astronomers to determine the composition and temperature of the expanding supernova gas.
Explanation
In 1993, a star in the galaxy [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…] M [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…]81 exploded. Above is a picture of the hot material ejected by this supernova [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…] explosion. The picture was taken in X-rays [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…] with the Advanced Satellite for Cosmology and Astrophysics [ http://heasarc.gsfc…] (ASCA [ http://heasarc.gsfc…]). Since M81 is a relatively nearby galaxy, it can be examined in close detail by observatories on or near the Earth [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…]. Since the Earth's atmosphere [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…] protects the surface from interstellar X-radiation, the above photo [ http://pao.gsfc.nas…] was taken from space. Studying the nature and distribution of the X-rays has allowed astronomers to determine the composition and temperature of the expanding supernova gas.
