NASA Spots 1,700-Year-Old Possible Supernova Remnant in Sagittarius C
Updated
Updated · Scientific American · Jun 15
NASA Spots 1,700-Year-Old Possible Supernova Remnant in Sagittarius C
3 articles · Updated · Scientific American · Jun 15
Summary
Chandra data point to a possible supernova remnant 26,000 light-years away in Sagittarius C, with scientists estimating the debris is at least 1,700 years old and expanding at about 2 million mph.
A bright x-ray blob inside the region matches several hallmarks of a rapidly expanding remnant, based on a new Astrophysical Journal study combining Chandra, XMM-Newton, MeerKAT and Pan-STARRS observations.
The case is not settled: researchers did not find the elevated elemental abundances usually seen around supernova remnants, though they say the debris may already have mixed with surrounding gas.
If confirmed, the object would rank among the closest supernova remnants known to the Milky Way's central supermassive black hole, in the active star-forming region Sagittarius C.
How will this ancient stellar explosion's debris feed the monster black hole at our galaxy's heart?
Why is a supernova's chemical signature missing from wreckage near our galaxy's central black hole?
Could this stellar ghost near a black hole help solve the mystery of the universe's expansion?
A Probable Supernova Remnant in Sagittarius C: New Insights into Stellar Feedback and Chemical Enrichment Near Sgr A*
Overview
Astronomers have discovered a promising supernova remnant candidate in the Sagittarius C Complex, close to the center of our galaxy. This finding, published in the Astrophysical Journal, was made possible by combining X-ray, radio, and infrared data from observatories like NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope and Chandra X-ray Observatory. The integrated approach revealed both hot gas from the supernova remnant and cooler gas in a nearby H II region. This discovery offers a unique chance to study how massive stars explode and interact with their surroundings in the extreme environment near the Galactic Center.