Supernova Photos: Great Images of Star Explosions

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Star Remnants Retain 'Memory' of Explosions

NASA/CXC/UCSC/L. Lopez et al.

The shapes of supernova leftovers can tell scientists the origin of this explosion, with Type 1a supernova from thermonuclear explosions leaving behind symmetric remnants (right). And supernova created when a massive star collapses tend to leave behind asymmetrical remnants (left).

On 10th Birthday, Chandra Spies Stellar Explosion

NASA/CXC/MIT/D.Dewey et al. & NASA/CXC/SAO/J.DePasquale)

This composite image of X-ray and optical data shows the remnant of supernova 1E 0102.2-7219, about 190,000 light-years away in the Small Magellanic Cloud.

Supernova Blast Wave in Series

NASA/Peter Challis [Full Story]

Time-series images made by cameras onboard the Hubble Space Telescope show the evolution of the inner remnant of Supernova 1987A.

Supernova SN 1006

X-ray: NASA/CXC/Rutgers/G.Cassam-Chenaï, J.Hughes et al.; Radio: NRAO/AUI/NSF/GBT/VLA/Dyer, Maddalena & Cornwell; Optical: Middlebury College/F.Winkler, NOAO/AURA/NSF/CTIO Schmidt & DSS

A composite image of the SN 1006 supernova remnant, which is located about 7,100 light-years from Earth. Image released on Sept. 26, 2012.

Supernova 1987A in Large Magellanic Cloud

The Hubble Heritage Team (AURA/STScI/NASA)

This stunning space image reveals Supernova 1987A in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Glittering stars and wisps of gas create a backdrop for the self-destruction of a massive star.

Remains of Star Supernova SNR 0519

ESA/Hubble & NASA. Acknowledgement: Claude Cornen

These delicate wisps of gas make up an object known as SNR B0519-69.0, or SNR 0519 for short.

Supernova Sand Grains

NASA/JPL-Caltech/ O. Krause (Steward Observatory)

In 2007 NASA’s Spitzer space telescope found the infrared signature of silica (sand) in the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A. The light from this exploding star first reached Earth in the 1600s. The cyan dot just off center is all that remains of the star that exploded.

Supernova Remnant Cassiopeia A

NASA and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA) / Acknowledgment: R. Fesen (Dartmouth) and J. Morse (Univ. of Colorado)

This stunning space image shows the youngest-known supernova remnant in our galaxy, which lies 10,000 light years away in the constellation Cassiopeia. The light from this exploding star first reached Earth in the 1600s.

Supernova Remnant IC 443

NASA/DOE/Fermi LAT Collaboration, NOAO/AURA/NSF, JPL-Caltech/UCLA

This multiwavelength composite shows the supernova remnant IC 443, also known as the Jellyfish Nebula. Fermi GeV gamma-ray emission is shown in magenta, optical wavelengths as yellow, and infrared data from NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) mission is shown as blue (3.4 microns), cyan (4.6 microns), green (12 microns) and red (22 microns). Cyan loops indicate where the remnant is interacting with a dense cloud of interstellar gas.

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Space.com Staff
Space.com Staff
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