Supernova Remnant DEM L249
These cosmic ribbons of gas have been left behind by a titanic stellar explosion called a supernova. DEM L249 is thought to be the remnant of a Type 1a supernova, the death of a white dwarf star. White dwarf stars are usually stable, but in a binary system ― two stars orbiting each other ― a white dwarf can gravitationally pull so much matter from its companion that it reaches critical mass and explodes. Astronomers suspect DEM L249’s white dwarf star was more massive than expected ― heavier stars expel more gas ― which also means it would have died earlier in its lifecycle.
Image Credit: NASA, ESA, and Y. Chou (Academia Sinica, Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America)
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https://science.nasa.gov/image-detail/amf-9d077508-e326-43d5-9637-ef7ca17e2cb7/
Image CreditNASA, ESA, and Y. Chou (Academia Sinica, Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America)
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