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The massive Vela supernova remnant, located 800 light-years from Earth in the constellation of Vela, continues to be one of the most spectacular astronomical objects in the Milky Way even 11 years after the explosion. The grandiose structure was formed by the catastrophic collapse of a massive star, which created a powerful shock wave and scattered stellar material into space, reports SciTechDaily.
Using modern technology, including the Chandra X-ray Telescope and instruments from the European Southern Observatory, scientists are studying in detail the complex intertwining of hot gas and magnetic fields in this region. At the center of the structure is a pulsar, an ultra-dense core of a former star that spins rapidly and emits powerful pulses of energy.
The multilayered structure of the remnant manifests itself differently in different spectral ranges: in optical light it resembles a giant web of bright threads, and in X-rays it shows energetic flows of gas heated to millions of degrees. Observations in the radio range allow us to study the complex configuration of magnetic fields that formed after the explosion.
The supernova explosion scattered heavy elements—iron, oxygen, and silicon—into space, becoming the building blocks for new stars and planets. This process is key to the chemical evolution of the universe, providing the elements needed to form complex structures, including the foundations for future life.
Shock waves from the explosion still travel through interstellar space, compressing gas clouds and triggering the formation of new stars. Studying objects like the Vela supernova helps astrophysicists better understand the mechanisms of galaxy evolution and the role of catastrophic events in shaping cosmic structures.
The massive Vela supernova remnant, located 800 light-years from Earth in the constellation of Vela, continues to be one of the most spectacular astronomical objects in the Milky Way even 11 years after the explosion. The grandiose structure was formed by the catastrophic collapse of a massive star, which created a powerful shock wave and scattered stellar material into space, reports SciTechDaily.
Using modern technology, including the Chandra X-ray Telescope and instruments from the European Southern Observatory, scientists are studying in detail the complex intertwining of hot gas and magnetic fields in this region. At the center of the structure is a pulsar, an ultra-dense core of a former star that spins rapidly and emits powerful pulses of energy.
The multilayered structure of the remnant manifests itself differently in different spectral ranges: in optical light it resembles a giant web of bright threads, and in X-rays it shows energetic flows of gas heated to millions of degrees. Observations in the radio range allow us to study the complex configuration of magnetic fields that formed after the explosion.
The supernova explosion scattered heavy elements—iron, oxygen, and silicon—into space, becoming the building blocks for new stars and planets. This process is key to the chemical evolution of the universe, providing the elements needed to form complex structures, including the foundations for future life.
Shock waves from the explosion still travel through interstellar space, compressing gas clouds and triggering the formation of new stars. Studying objects like the Vela supernova helps astrophysicists better understand the mechanisms of galaxy evolution and the role of catastrophic events in shaping cosmic structures.
