This is the object called G1.9+0.3 by astronomers. It’s about 28,000 light-years from Earth near the center of our Milky Way galaxy. The object is an expanding shell of gas, left behind by the most recent supernova, in Earth’s time frame, known to have occurred in our galaxy.
If gas and dust had not heavily obscured it, the supernova explosion would have been visible from Earth just over a century ago.
A new observation with NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory made this image possible. For astronomers, these Chandra observations – made over the equivalent of 11 days of time – reveal new details about the explosion.
Deborah Byrd created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. Today, she serves as Editor-in-Chief of this website. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named 3505 Byrd in her honor. In 2020, she won the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society, the largest organization of professional astronomers in North America. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.
Like what you read? Subscribe and receive daily news delivered to your inbox.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.