Images by Date
Images by Category
Solar System
Stars
Exoplanets
White Dwarfs
Supernovas
Neutron Stars
Black Holes
Milky Way Galaxy
Normal Galaxies
Quasars
Galaxy Clusters
Cosmology/Deep Field
Miscellaneous
Images by Interest
Space Scoop for Kids
4K JPG
Multiwavelength
Sky Map
Constellations
Photo Blog
Top Rated Images
Image Handouts
Desktops
Fits Files
Visual descriptions
Image Tutorials
Photo Album Tutorial
False Color
Cosmic Distance
Look-Back Time
Scale & Distance
Angular Measurement
Images & Processing
AVM/Metadata
Image Use Policy
Web Shortcuts
Chandra Blog
RSS Feed
Chronicle
Email Newsletter
News & Noteworthy
Image Use Policy
Questions & Answers
Glossary of Terms
Download Guide
Get Adobe Reader
More Information
Black Holes
X-ray Astronomy Field Guide
Black Holes
Questions and Answers
Black Holes
Chandra Images
Black Holes
Supernovas & Supernova Remnants
X-ray Astronomy Field Guide: Supernovas & Supernova Remnants
Questions and Answers: Supernovas & Supernova Remnants
Chandra Images: Supernovas & Supernova Remnants
Related Podcasts
Tour: Spotted: 'Death Star' Black Holes in Action
Download Image

More Information

More Images
Schematic
(Credit: NASA/G.Garmire (PSU)/F.Baganoff (MIT)/Yusef-Zadeh (NWU))

More Releases

Related Images
Galactic Center
Galactic Center
(14 Jan 00)
Sagittarius A East:
Scientists Discover Supernova May Control Activity in the Center of Our Galaxy


Sagittarius A East
Credit: NASA/Penn State/G.Garmire et al.

This Chandra X-ray image shows the relationship between the black hole Sagittarius A* and the supernova remnant Sagittarius A East, both of which are located in the center of our galaxy in the constellation Sagittarius. For the first time, astronomers using Chandra were able to separate the supernova remnant, Sgr A East, from other complex structures in the center of the Milky Way. The emission from the supernova remnant Sgr A East is depicted by the bright yellow and orange tones in the middle of this image. From the Chandra image, scientists can clearly see that Sgr A East surrounds Sgr A*, the Milky Way's central black hole found near the white dots in the lower-right portion of the central object.

With Chandra, astronomers found hot gas concentrated within the larger radio shell of Sgr A East. The gas is highly enriched by heavy elements, with four times more calcium and iron than the Sun, and that confirms earlier suspicions that Sgr A East is most likely a remnant of a supernova explosion. While dozens of supernova remnants are known in our galaxy, the proximity of Sgr A East to the black hole in the center of our galaxy makes it important. By detailing the association between Sgr A East and Sgr A*, astronomers hope to learn if this is an example of a common relationship between supernovas and black holes throughout the universe.

Fast Facts for Sagittarius A East:
Credit  NASA/Penn State/G.Garmire et al.
Scale  Image is 8.4 arcmin across.
Category  Black Holes, Supernovas & Supernova Remnants
Coordinates (J2000)  RA 17h 45m 40.00s | Dec -29° 00´ 20.00"
Constellation  Sagittarius
Observation Dates  September 21, 1999
Observation Time  13 hours
Obs. IDs  242
Color Code  Intensity
Instrument  ACIS
Distance Estimate  25,000 light years
Release Date  February 01, 2001