Vivid View of Tycho's Supernova Remnant
Sig08 016a

Credit: MPIA/NASA

Observation • December 3rd, 2008 • sig08-016a

sig08-016a

This composite image of the Tycho supernova remnant combines infrared and X-ray observations obtained with NASA's Spitzer and Chandra space observatories, respectively, and the Calar Alto observatory, Spain. It shows the scene more than four centuries after the brilliant star explosion witnessed by Tycho Brahe and other astronomers of that era. The explosion has left a blazing hot cloud of expanding debris (green and yellow). The location of the blast's outer shock wave can be seen as a blue sphere of ultra-energetic electrons. Newly synthesized dust in the ejected material and heated pre-existing dust from the area around the supernova radiate at infrared wavelengths of 24 microns (red). Foreground and background stars in the image are white.

About the Object

Name
Tycho Supernova RemnantSN 1572
Type
Nebula > Type > Supernova Remnant
Distance
7,500 Light Years

Astrometrics

Position (J2000)
RA =0h 24m 59.5s
Dec = 64° 11' 17.9"
Field of View
0.5 x 0.5 arcminutes
Orientation
North is 145.4° left of vertical