Supernova 1006

Produced by the Space Telescope Science Institute’s Office of Public Outreach in collaboration with NASA’s Universe of Learning partners: Caltech/IPAC, Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Video imagery:

·       Chandra X-ray Observatory image of SN 1006: NASA/CXC/SAO

·       IXPE X-ray polarization image of SN 1006: NASA/MSFC/Nanjing Univ./P. Zhou et al.

·       Composite Chandra, IXPE, and Spitzer infrared image, annotated with magnetic field vectors: X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO (Chandra); NASA/MSFC/Nanjing Univ./P. Zhou et al. (IXPE); IR: NASA/JPL/CalTech/Spitzer; Image Processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/J.Schmidt

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Scenes of planets, nebulae, and other cosmic phenomenon flash past. Text, News From the Universe. 

 

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November 6, 2023. Supernova 1006. 

 

The dark red clouds of the supernova spread out from the center with an edge of white on two sides. 

 

Text, NASA's I.X.P.E. (Imaging X-ray Poliarimetry Explorer) telescope is providing new insight into the brightest stellar event in recorded history. 

 

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We very slowly move closer to the supernova and the deep red clouds of dust within. 

 

Text, In 1006 C.E., astronomers across the world recorded a new light in the sky, visible by day. 

 

It was a supernova, 6,500 light-years away in the constellation Lupus. 

 

I.X.P.E. has captured the first polarized X-ray imagery of part of the supernova remnant. 

 

A purple arc of light from the supernova remnant appears on a black background in a zoom circle. 

 

Text, Researchers say the I.X.P.E. results demonstrate a connection between magnetic fields (represented by white lines) and the remnant's high-energy particle outflow. The I.X.P.E. results appear overlaid on the photo of the supernova remnant. White lines extend out from the edge of the purple I.X.P.E. section. 

 

Text, Together, NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and I.X.P.E. show that the magnetic field lines, though turbulent, align with the expansion of the supernova remnant. 

 

This news was brought to you in part by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL.