Chandra Release - October 23, 2007

Visual Description: G292.0+1.8

 The Chandra X-ray Observatory image of the supernova remnant G292.0+1.8 features a vibrant, multi-colored nebula on a background of bright stars in optical light from the Digitized Sky Survey. The nebula appears as a large, glowing object in the center of the image, resembling a colorful balloon or blowfish. The colors within the nebula range from shades of blue, green, orange and red.  The aftermath of the death of a massive star is shown in beautiful detail in this image. Near the center of G292 is a pulsar wind nebula, in blue. This is the magnetized bubble of high-energy particles that surrounds the pulsar, a rapidly rotating neutron star that remained behind after the original, massive star exploded. A narrow, jet-like feature running from north to south in the image is likely parallel to the spin axis of the pulsar.  The pulsar is located slightly below and to the left of the center of G292. Assuming that the pulsar was born at the center of the remnant, it is thought that recoil from the lopsided explosion may have kicked the pulsar in this direction. However, the kick direction and the pulsar spin direction do not appear to be aligned, in contrast to apparent spin-kick alignments seen in some other supernova remnants.
Another key feature of this remnant is a long white line running from left to right across the center called the equatorial belt. This structure is thought to be created when the star — before it died — expelled material from around its equator via winds.