Supernova Remnant

space · stellar explosion · astronomy · cosmic

Exploding star aftermath. When a star explodes as a supernova, it leaves behind an expanding bubble of hot gas and material called a supernova remnant. This bubble keeps growing and glowing for thousands of years.

Shock wave spreads outward. The remnant is bounded by a powerful shock wave that rushes outward from the explosion like a cosmic shockwave in water. This shock wave pushes against the gas and dust between stars, sweeping it up as it travels.

Mixed-up materials. A supernova remnant contains two types of material: the stuff that was ejected from the exploding star itself, and the interstellar gas and dust it crashes into and heats up along the way.

Visible across space. Supernova remnants glow brightly in X-rays and radio waves, which lets astronomers study them with special telescopes even though they're incredibly far away.

Seeds of new stars. The expanding gas from supernova remnants mixes with the galaxy and can eventually clump together to form new stars and planets billions of years later.