Kepler's Supernova Remnant Timelapse with Zooms
(Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Optical: Pan-STARRS)
[Runtime: 00:40]

A new video shows changes in Kepler’s Supernova Remnant using data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory captured over more than two and a half decades with observations taken in 2000, 2004, 2006, 2014, and 2025. In this video, which is the longest-spanning one ever released by Chandra, X-rays (blue) from the telescope have been combined with an optical image (red, green, and blue) from Pan-STARRS.

Kepler's Supernova Remnant Timelapse (without zooms)
(Credit: NASA/CXC/A. Hobart)
[Runtime: 00:10]

A new video shows changes in Kepler’s Supernova Remnant using data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory captured over more than two and a half decades with observations taken in 2000, 2004, 2006, 2014, and 2025. In this video, which is the longest-spanning one ever released by Chandra, X-rays (blue) from the telescope have been combined with an optical image (red, green, and blue) from Pan-STARRS.

Tour: Supernova Remnant Video From NASA's Chandra Is Decades in Making
(Credit: NASA/CXC/A. Hobart)
[Runtime: 02:47]

With closed-captions (at YouTube)

A new video shows the exciting development of Kepler’s Supernova Remnant using data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory captured over more than two and a half decades.

Kepler’s Supernova Remnant, named after the German astronomer Johannes Kepler, was first spotted in the night sky in 1604. Today, astronomers know that a white dwarf star exploded when it exceeded a critical mass, after pulling material from a companion star, or merging with another white dwarf. This kind of supernova is known as a Type Ia and scientists use it to measure the expansion of the Universe.

Supernova remnants, the debris fields left behind after a stellar explosion, often glow strongly in X-ray light because the material has been heated to millions of degrees from the blast. The remnant is located in our Galaxy about 17,000 light-years from Earth. This is relatively close in cosmic terms and allows Chandra to make exquisite images of the debris and how it changes with time.

This latest video includes Chandra’s X-ray data from 2000, 2004, 2006, 2014, and 2025. This makes it the longest-spanning video that Chandra has ever released. It also allows astronomers to watch as these remains from this shattered star crash into material already thrown out into space.

The researchers used the video to show that the fastest parts of the remnant are traveling at about 13.8 million miles per hour — or about 2% of the speed of light — moving towards the bottom of the image. Meanwhile, the slowest parts are traveling towards the top at about 4 million miles per hour. This is a large difference in speed, and astronomers think it is explained by the gas that the remnant is plowing into towards the top of the image being denser than the gas towards the bottom. This gives scientists information about the environments into which this star exploded.

Supernova explosions and the elements they hurl into space are the lifeblood of new stars and planets. Understanding exactly how they behave is crucial to knowing our cosmic history.

Quick Look: Supernova Remnant Video From NASA's Chandra Is Decades in Making
(Credit: NASA/CXC/A. Hobart)
[Runtime: 00:46]

With narration (video above with voiceover)

A new video of Kepler’s Supernova Remnant spanning a quarter century is out.

Data from NASA’s Chandra from 2000 to 2025 were used to create this new video.

Kepler’s is a type of supernova that scientists use to measure the universe’s expansion.

This remarkable video lets astronomers learn more about these important objects.