|
Hubble
spotted this festive bauble of gas in our
neighboring galaxy, formed in the aftermath
of a supernova explosion that took place four centuries ago.
Ripples seen in the shell’s
surface may be caused either by subtle variations in the density of the
ambient interstellar
gas, or possibly be driven from the interior by fragments from the initial
explosion. The
bubble-shaped shroud of gas is 23 light-years across and
about 400 years old. Astronomers
have concluded that the explosion was an example
of an especially energetic and bright
variety of supernova. |
