Cas A (Cassiopeia  A)

    I would like instead of preface to write a few words on this subject. Why? Why it differs from the "standard" basic criteria. Until now, I was used to processing issues, recorded in the human visible wavelength, or even close to it (infrared). But  the frames of Chandra X Ray Observatory, give us the opportunity not only scientifically, but also aisthetically to "see" beyond what we "see." Processing these frames, with arbitrary color selection, in a series of three energy classes. It was for me an amazing experience, as if dipped into an abyss, in a transcendental journey, beyond the remotest of my imagination. As I "explore" this theme mostlly in a basis of aesthetic criteria, ideas and emotions flooded me, as if my spirit escaped from my body, traveling in the space of the "Footprint of the Gas A supernova remnants». The above image is the fossil from this truly "magical" trip. For me it was an unforgettable experience!

 

   The Cassiopeia A supernova remnant, belongs in the constellation Cassiopeia, as the name suggests it. 11,000 light years from us, it is the brightest X-ray source in our sky, at frequencies around 1 GHz. It is believed that the glow of the explosion arrived in our land 300 years ago, although there are no recorded historical data for this event, probably due in absorption of radiation in the visible spectrum from interstellar dust. Likely to be the 6th magnitude star 3 Cassiopiae, by John Flamsteed, 16 August 1680.

 

 

The Cas A (Cassiopeia A) is the residue of a huge star that his explotion reach earth about 300 years ago. Figure X-ray shows a shell of hot gases generated by the explosion. This gas shell is about 10 light years in diameter, and has a temperature of about 50 million degrees. The material from the eruption rushing outward at supersonic speeds in excess of ten million miles per hour. This gaseous material surrounding the former star, ejected with shock waves.

 

    A supernova occurs when a massive star has used his nuclear 'fuel' and the pressure increases in the central core of the star. The core material is crushed by gravity towards ever higher densities and temperatures, reaching billions of degrees. Under these extreme conditions, nuclear reaction occurs violently as a try to reversing the collapse. The expanding stars residues travelling like a thermonuclear shock wave, fusing lighter elements into heavier, producing a brilliant explosion.

 

    About every fifty years in our galaxy, a giant star explodes. The shell of matter ejected from the supernova creates a bubble of multimillion degree gas. This phenomenon is called supernova residue. The Cas A is a prime example. The hot gas will be expanded and produces X-rays for thousands of years.

 

      The nature of the explosion produced in the Cas A is an ainigma. Although radio optic and X-ray observations of the residue of the star show that it was an extremely strong event, his visual brightness was much less than the expected. Apparently the Cas A was produced by the explosion of an unusually massive star, but previously as it seems, the star ejected most of its outer layers.

 

Tracing the mysteries of Cas A With Chandra X-ray Observatory of NASA

 

      Spectacular live Chandra image of Cas A allows scientists to highlight the dynamics and conflict with any material ejected from the star before the supernova exploding. Chandra detectors given the scientists precise measurements of the energy of the individual X-radiation from the A CAS. These measurements enable the determination of heavy elements present as well clues about theirs  quantities. Chandra observations will help astronomers solve the long-standing mystery as to the nature and origin of Cas A.

 

   A related mystery is how the explosion produced by the Cas A left behind a neutron star, a black hole, or nothing at all. The above Chandra image of Cas A showes a bright object near the center of residue.!  Chandra observations can determine if this is the long-awaited neutron star or a black hole.

 

Importance of Supernova.

 

     The study of supernova residues is necessary to understand the origin of life on Earth. The cloud of gas and dust collapsed to, form the sun, the Earth and the other planets consisted mainly of hydrogen and helium, with a small amount of heavier elements such as carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and iron. The only place where these and other heavy elements necessary for life are made, are deep inside a massive star. There remain until a devastating explosion spread them throughout space.

 

       Supernovae are the creative shines that refreshes the galaxy material. Diffuse interstellar gas with heavy elements, heating it with the energy of the radiation, sparking with their blast creating new stars.

 

      The Chandra X-ray Observatory of NASA (Chandra X Ray Observatory) launched and developed by the Space Shuttle Columbia on July 23, 1999. It was the most advanced X-ray observatory to date, than when you started. Since the Earth's atmosphere absorbs the vast majority of X-rays, which are not detected by ground-based telescopes to make these observations,   space telescopes required. The Chandra X  Ray Observator responded and will continue to answer many questions about high-energy universe, allowing scientists to ask new questions about the universe.

 

    The  Chandra’ s  observatory is designed to observe X-ray high-energy regions of the universe, as the remnants of supernova burst.  Theresolution of Chandra’s telescopes have about fifty times the High Resolution of the ROSAT observator. The Chandra’s images reveals new information about phenomena in our universe. Scientists can now see rings and jets in the area around a pulsar, such as the Supernova in the nebula of Cancer. This level of detail can provide valuable information for understanding how pulsars transmits energy to the nebula as a whole.

 

    The Chandra X-ray Observatory of NASA named in honor of the late Nobel laureate, Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar. He was known to the world as Chandra (which means "moon" or "light" in Sanskrit). It was widely regarded as one of the foremost astrophysicists of the twentieth century.

(Source : Chandra’s X Ray Observatory site)