Chandra Release - January 9, 2007

Visual Description: Kepler's Supernova Remnant

 This X-ray image shows Kepler's Supernova Remnant, which is the remains of a massive star that exploded and was witnessed hundreds of years ago on Earth. The image is dominated by shades of pale purple-pink, and electric blue, with a hint of pale gold and green. The structure of Kepler's Supernova Remnant consists of an irregularly shaped nebula, almost like a knot. In the Chandra Kepler image, pink tones represent low-energy X-rays and show material around the star -- dominated by oxygen -- that has been heated up by a blast wave from the star's explosion. The pale gold color shows slightly higher energy X-rays, mostly iron formed in the supernova, while green (medium-energy X-rays) shows other elements from the exploded star. The blue color represents the highest energy X-rays and shows a shock front generated by the explosion.