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Supernova SN1999em

Chandra SN1999em X-ray Image
X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO
Optical: Palomar Observatory Digital Sky Survey
JPEG (76 k) , Tiff (472 k), PS (94 k)

Chandra Observation of Supernova SN1999em. In late October of 1999, a supernova was detected in NGC 1637, a spiral galaxy that is 25 million light years from Earth. Chandra observed the supernova twice soon after the explosion. X rays, shown by contours overlaid on an optical mage, were detected from 3 million degree gas produced by the supernova. An X-ray source in the center of the galaxy was also detected.


Fast Facts for Supernova SN1999em:
Credit X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO, Optical: Palomar Observatory Digital Sky Survey
Scale  Image is 2 arcmin on a side.
Category  Supernovas & Supernova Remnants
Constellation  Taurus
Observation Date  October 1-2 and 11-12, 1999
Observation Time  9 hours each time
Obs. ID  763 and 764
Color Code  Intensity
Instrument  ACIS
Distance Estimate  25 million light years
Release Date  December 14, 1999

More Information on Supernova SN1999em:
Press Room: SN1999em Press Release
More Images of SN1999em
SN1999em Handout: html | pdf
Powerpoint and PDF
Chandra Chronicles: In Pursuit of a "Target of Opportunity"
More Information on Supernovas & Supernova Remnants:
X-ray Astronomy Field Guide: Supernovas and Supernova Remnants
Multimedia: Supernova Explosion (Quick Time Animation)
Related Activities: Supernova Word Search (java enhanced)
Questions and Answers: Supernovas & Supernova Remnants
Chandra Images: Supernovas & Supernova Remnants


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