16.8.14

Astronomy picture of the day 16-08-2014

See Explanation.  Clicking on the picture will download
 the highest resolution version available.
No X-rays from SN 2014J
Image Credit: NASA /CXC / SAO /R. Margutti et al.
Explanation: Last January, telescopes in observatories around planet Earth were eagerly used to watch the rise of SN 2014J, a bright supernova in nearby galaxy M82. Still, the most important observations may have been from orbit where theChandra X-ray Observatorysaw nothing. Identified as aType Ia supernova, the explosion of SN2014J was thought to be triggered by the buildup of mass on a white dwarf star steadilyaccreting material from a companion star. That model predicts X-rays would be generated when the supernova blastwave struck the material left surrounding the white dwarf. But no X-rays were seen from the supernova. The mostly blank close-ups centered on the supernova's position are shown in the before and after inset panels of Chandra's false colorX-ray image of the M82 galaxy. The stunninglack of X-raysfrom SN 2014J will require astronomers to explore other models to explain what triggers thesecosmic explosions.

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