February 16, 1998
1 min read
Add Us On GoogleAdd SciAmRings of Fire
IMAGES from the Hubble Space Telescope's Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 show that a vast shockwave--released by an exploding star--is just now beginning to pound a glowing ring of gas surrounding the star's remains. This gas ring sits two-thirds of a light year away from where the star's core once was.
The image of Supernova 1987A at the left shows the star system as it looked in 1994. To the right is a recent image taken by the Hubble in 1997. The bulging knot of gas (arrow), which dangles into the ring like a stalactite, is beginning to glow bright yellow as the leading edge of the shockwave crashes into it. Astronomers expect that the entire ring will light up over the next few years.
The material in the center of both images is the visible part of the shredded star, rushing outward at 3,000 kilometers per second. It contains iron and other heavy elements and is visible because it is heated by radioactive elements created in the supernova explosion. The bright dot in the lower left is a nearby star, which is not physically part of the system.
On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
Images: PETER GARNAVICH, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics; HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE
Back to ShockwaveIt’s Time to Stand Up for Science
If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.
I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.
If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.
In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.
There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.
