Dusty Celestial Ornaments Dusty Celestial Ornaments: Supernova Remnant Cassiopeia A

Ssc2007-20a1_sm
spitzer_ssc2007-20a1 December 20, 2007

Creator: Spitzer Space Telescope

Image Source: http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/images/1716-ssc2007-20a1-Supernova-Remnant-Cassiopeia-A-Silicon-Gas

This infrared image shows silicon gas (blue) deep in the interior of the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A. This cooler gas, called the unshocked ejecta, was synthesized in the supernova blast.

The data for this image was taken by Spitzer's infrared spectrograph, which splits light apart to reveal the fingerprints of molecules and elements. In total, Spitzer collected separate "spectra" at more than 1,700 positions across Cassiopeia A.

Image Use Policy: Public Domain

View Options

Image Details

Image Type
Observation
Object Name
Cassiopeia A Cas A
Subject - Milky Way
Nebula » Type » Supernova Remnant

Distance

Universescale1
11,000 light years

Position Details

Ssc2007-20a1_sm
Position (ICRS)
RA = 23h 23m 25.7s
DEC = 58° 49’ 12.9”
Orientation
North is 0.2° CCW
Field of View
8.0 x 8.0 arcminutes
Constellation
Cassiopeia

Color Mapping

  Telescope Spectral Band Wavelength
Arrow_left_blue Spitzer (IRS) Infrared (Mid-IR) 35.0 µm
Image constructed from specific wavelengths extracted from 1,700 IRS spectra
Spectrum_ir1
Arrow_top_blue