ESA Showcases the Ancient Echo of an 800-year-old Supernova Explosion

Jace Dela Cruz, Tech Times 28 March 2024, 06:03 am

The Europe Space Agency (ESA) has brought to light the ancient echo of an 800-year-old supernova explosion, showcasing the remnants of a celestial event that captivated observers in the year 1181.

Marvel at stunning echo of 800-year-old explosion — A combined picture of what's left from supernova 1181 shows a round, bright cloud surrounded by small white stars in the center. Inside this cloud, streaks shooting out like fireworks from a central star are visible. (Photo: G. Ferrand and J. English (U. of Manitoba), NASA/Chandra/WISE, ESA/XMM, MDM/R.Fessen (Dartmouth College), Pan-STARRS)

A Cosmic Echo From the Year 1181

Historical records recount the appearance of a rare supernova in the night sky. According to ESA, its brilliance rivaled Saturn's and remained visible for an impressive 185 consecutive days.

In the quest to locate the remnant of this remarkable cosmic phenomenon, scientists initially speculated that the nebula surrounding the pulsar 3C 58 might be the aftermath of the supernova.

However, further examination revealed that the pulsar predates the supernova explosion 1181.

In recent years, another candidate has emerged in the form of Pa 30, a nearly circular nebula with a central star nestled in the constellation Cassiopeia.

A composite image of this nebula has been constructed by combining imagery from various telescopes, offering a breathtaking glimpse into the supernova remnant that graced the skies over 800 years ago.

ESA's XMM-Newton telescope has provided X-ray observations (depicted in blue) illustrating the nebula's full expanse, while NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory (shown in cyan) has pinpointed its central source.

Although scarcely visible in optical light, the nebula radiates brightly in infrared light, captured by NASA's Wide-field Infrared Space Explorer (displayed in red and pink).

Notably, the radial structure within the image comprises heated sulphur emitting visible light, observed through the ground-based Hiltner 2.4 m telescope at the MDM Observatory in Arizona, USA (depicted in green), alongside the stars in the background captured by Pan-STARRS (illustrated in white) in Hawaii, USA.

Thermonuclear Explosion

Examinations of the composition of the various components of the remnant have led scientists to conclude that it originated from a thermonuclear explosion, specifically a sub-luminous Type Iax supernova event. This type of event involves merging two white dwarf stars, typically leaving no remnant behind.

However, incomplete explosions can form a 'zombie' star, exemplified by the massive white dwarf star within this system, according to ESA.

This exceptionally hot star, one of the hottest in the Milky Way with temperatures reaching approximately 200,000 degrees Celsius, emits a fast stellar wind with speeds reaching up to 16,000 km/h. The unique combination of the star and the nebula presents an invaluable opportunity for studying such rare cosmic phenomena.

ESA notes that the composite image of the supernova remnant reveals a spherical bright nebula at its core, surrounded by a constellation of white, dotted stars. Several rays extend outward within the nebula like celestial fireworks emanating from a central star.