Chandra Release - April 10, 2000

Visual Description: E0102-72.3

The X-ray, optical, and radio image of the supernova remnant E0102-72.3 features a brightly glowing red, blue and green object in the center of a dark background. The X-ray image in blue captures high-energy radiation emitted by the remnant, while the optical image provides a visible light view of the nebula in green, which are dense clumps of oxygen gas that have "cooled" to about 30,000 degree Celsius. The radio image, in red, on the other hand, detects low-frequency radio waves emitted by the remnant. The Chandra X-ray Observatory image shows gas that has been heated to millions of degrees Celsius by the rebounding, or reverse, shock wave. The X-ray data show that this gas is rich in oxygen and neon. These elements were created by nuclear reactions inside the star and hurled into space by the supernova.  In terms of textures, colors, and forms, the green texture in the center of the image can be compared to illuminated jellyfish swimming in the center of a ring of blue and red. The surrounding nebula appears as a multi-colored gas cloud.