Chandra Release - October 22, 2001

Visual Description: G292.0+1.8

 The Chandra X-ray Observatory image of the supernova remnant G292.0+1.8 is a fascinating image showcasing various textures, colors, and forms in space. The image depicts the nebula, the large cloud of gas and dust that has been ejected from a star during the supernova explosion. In the image, there is a bright, glowing object that resembles a jellyfish swimming on its side. The colors of the image are predominantly white, yellow and blue, with some green and purple hues present. This image shows a rapidly expanding shell of gas that is 36 light years across and contains large amounts of elements such as oxygen, neon, magnesium, silicon and sulfur. Embedded in this cloud of multimillion degree gas is a key piece of evidence linking neutron stars and supernovas produced by the collapse of massive stars.