N49

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N49: A supernova remnant located in the Large Magellanic Cloud
(Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/Caltech/S.Kulkarni et al.; Optical: NASA/STScI/UIUC/Y.H.Chu & R.Williams et al.; IR: NASA/JPL-Caltech/R.Gehrz et al.)

Caption: In Chandra's X-ray data, N49 shows million-degree gas in its center (blue), while Spitzer reveals much cooler, infrared-emitting gas at the remnant's outer regions (red). Unique filamentary structure observed in optical light by Hubble (white & yellow) sets N49 apart from most other supernova remnants that appear roughly circular in visible light. When the multiwavelength data is combined, it appears to confirm the idea that this supernova remnant is expanding into a denser region to the southeast, which would cause its asymmetrical shape.

Scale: Image is 1.7 by 1.8 arcmin.

Chandra X-ray Observatory ACIS Image

CXC operated for NASA by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
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