X-ray spectra of several supernova remnants X-ray spectra from the Einstein Solid State Spectrometer (SSS), which reveals the composition of the stellar ejecta most clearly. Prominent emission lines from silicon and sulphur can be seen, at abundances greater than solar material (although there is no overabundance of iron apparent). These medium-weight elements were probably generated in the supernova explosion itself, during which significant nucleosynthesis is known to occur. Also visible are weaker lines from magnesium, argon, and calcium. These lines are direct observations of the material from the disrupted star and indicate that emission is thermal radiation from a gas heated to a temperature of several million degrees. Courtesy of A. Szymkowiak (GSFC). Reproduced from figure 3-10 in Charles and Seward. Search for an Image: (Enter the name of an object.) Additions or Comments: Have we left anything out? Is there something you would like to have added to this page (a link to your own group's research page, for example...)? IMAGES | By Mission | Stars | Cataclysmic Variables | X-ray Binaries | Pulsars | Supernova Remnants & Planetary Nebulae | Galaxies | Active Galactic Nuclei | Clusters and Groups of Galaxies | X-ray/gamma-ray Background & Deep Fields | Solar System Objects | Gamma Ray Bursts HEASARC Home | Observatories | Archive | Calibration | Software | Tools | Students/Teachers/Public Last modified: Thursday, 26-Jun-2003 13:48:44 EDT