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
Videos: Embracing a Rejected Star
Tour: Embracing a Rejected Star
(Credit: NASA/CXC/A. Hobart)
[Runtime: 02:16]

With closed-captions (at YouTube)

Zeta Ophiuchi is a star with a complicated past, having likely been ejected from its birthplace by a powerful stellar explosion. A new look by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory helps tell more of the story of this runaway star.

Located about 440 light-years from Earth, Zeta Ophiuchi is a hot star that is 20 times more massive than the Sun. Previous observations have provided evidence that Zeta Ophiuchi was once in close orbit with another star, before being ejected when this companion was destroyed in a supernova explosion. Infrared data from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope reveal a spectacular shock wave that was formed by matter blowing away from the star's surface and slamming into gas in its path. Data from Chandra show a bubble of X-ray emission located around the star, produced by gas that has been heated by the shock wave to tens of millions of degrees.

Outlined in a recent paper, researchers have constructed the first detailed computer models of the shock wave. They have begun testing whether the models can explain the data obtained at different wavelengths, including X-ray, optical, infrared and radio observations. All three of the different computer models predict fainter X-ray emission than observed. The bubble of X-ray emission is brightest near the star, whereas two of the three computer models predict the X-ray emission should be brighter near the shock wave.

In the future researchers plan to test more complicated models with additional physics — including the effects of turbulence, and particle acceleration — to see whether the agreement with X-ray data will improve.


Quick Look: Embracing a Rejected Star
(Credit: NASA/CXC/A. Hobart)
[Runtime: 0:45]

With narration (video above with voiceover)

Zeta Ophiuchi is a star that once had a companion that exploded as a supernova.

The explosion sent Zeta Ophiuchi hurtling through space.

Data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory tells more of its story.

A new image from Chandra (blue) and Spitzer (red and green) is being released.




Return to: Embracing a Rejected Star (July 25, 2022)