Animation of a Supernova Explosion
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When a massive star explodes, its outer layers are hurtled out into space at thousands of miles an hour, leaving a debris field of gas and dust. This creates a shell of hot gas that glows brightly in X-rays. This animation shows this process and depicts the stellar debris that Chandra is able to observe, revealing the dynamics of the explosion.
[Runtime: 0:15]
(Credit: NASA/CXC/A.Hobart)