RCW 86

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Chandra X-ray
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RCW 86: A supernova remnant that could match the oldest known supernova in recorded history.
(Credit: Chandra: NASA/CXC/Univ. of Utrecht/J.Vink et al. XMM-Newton: ESA/Univ. of Utrecht/J.Vink et al.)

Caption: A combined image from the Chandra and XMM-Newton X-ray observatories of RCW 86 shows the expanding ring of debris that was created after a massive star in the Milky Way collapsed onto itself and exploded. The new X-ray data were used to determine that RCW 86 is likely the remains of a new bright star recorded by Chinese astronomers in 185 A.D. The Chandra observations focused on the northeast (left-hand) side of RCW 86, and show that X-ray radiation is produced both by high-energy electrons accelerated in a magnetic field (blue) as well as heat from the blast itself (red).

Scale: Chandra field of view is 38 arcmin across.

Chandra X-ray Observatory ACIS Image

CXC operated for NASA by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
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