14 DAY TRIAL // Astronomers using the NASA Chandra X-ray Observatory (CXO) have recently released a new image of the renowned Fireworks Galaxy, also known as NGC 6496 or Arp 29. Located about 22 million light-years away from Earth, this formation shines brightly in X-ray wavelengths.
The reason why this galaxy got such a name is that it displayed no less than 8 supernova explosions over the past century. The new Chandra image reveals three of these supernova remnants (SNR) these energetic cosmic events left behind.
In this image, wavelengths seen by CXO are shown in purple. Additional data from the optical Gemini Observatory is shown in red, yellow, and cyan. This composite image is one of the most detailed ever collected of the Fireworks Galaxy.
Chandra was launched into space aboard the space shuttle Columbia, on July 23, 1999, for what was originally supposed to be a 5-year mission. The space telescope has been providing amazing X-ray photographs of the Universe for more than 14 years now.