"Telescopes Capture Spectacular Views of Exploding Stars"

NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and James Webb Space Telescope have combined data to study the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A, uncovering new details about the explosion that created it 340 years ago. The study explains an unusual structure in the debris called the "Green Monster" and reveals that it was created by a blast wave from the exploded star slamming into surrounding material. The research also compares pristine debris seen by Webb with X-ray maps of radioactive elements created in the supernova, shedding light on the explosion's details. These findings were presented at the American Astronomical Society meeting and are detailed in two papers submitted to Astrophysical Journal Letters.