Dusty Celestial Ornaments Dusty Celestial Ornament: Supernova Cassiopeian A in Infrared
Ssc2007 20a2

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/J. Rho (Caltech-SSC)

Observation • December 20th, 2007 • ssc2007-20a2

ssc2007-20a2

Cassiopeia A, is a supernova remnant is located about 10,000 light-years away in our own Milky Way galaxy.

This infrared view shows argon gas (green) that was synthesized as it was ejected from the star.

The data for this image was taken by Spitzer's infrared spectrograph, which splits light apart to reveal the fingerprints of molecules and elements. In total, Spitzer collected separate "spectra" at more than 1,700 positions across Cassiopeia A.

About the Object

Name
Cassiopeia ACas A
Type
Nebula > Type > Supernova Remnant
Distance
11,000 Light Years

Color Mapping

Band Wavelength Telescope
Infrared 7.0 µm Spitzer IRS

Astrometrics

Position (J2000)
RA =23h 23m 25.7s
Dec = 58° 49' 12.9"
Field of View
8.0 x 8.0 arcminutes
Orientation
North is 0.2° left of vertical