XMM-Newton’s View of Supernova 1987A
And in the X-ray spectrum, SN 1987A is quite spectacular. It outshines all the nearby X-ray sources, and it’s now 10 times brighter than it was when XMM-Newton first observed it back in 2000. The X-rays we see are generated when the expanding supernova shock wave interacts with the surrounding material.
The data gathered by XMM-Newton will help scientists understand how a supernova remnant forms, and eventually reveal the neutron star spinning at the centre.
Original Source: ESA News Release
Recent Posts
Two Stars in a Binary System are Very Different. It's Because There Used to be Three
A beautiful nebula in the southern hemisphere with a binary star at it's center seems…
The Highest Observatory in the World Comes Online
The history of astronomy and observatories is full of stories about astronomers going higher and…
Is the JWST Now an Interplanetary Meteorologist?
The JWST keeps one-upping itself. In the telescope's latest act of outdoing itself, it examined…
Solar Orbiter Takes a Mind-Boggling Video of the Sun
You've seen the Sun, but you've never seen the Sun like this. This single frame…
What Can AI Learn About the Universe?
Artificial intelligence and machine learning have become ubiquitous, with applications ranging from data analysis, cybersecurity,…
Enceladus’s Fault Lines are Responsible for its Plumes
The Search for Life in our Solar System leads seekers to strange places. From our…