Chandra Discovers Surprising Flickers in Supernova Remnants

WHO:

NASA - The organization involved in the discovery.

American Astronomical Society - The organization where the results were presented.

WHAT:

Space.com - NASA's Chandra X-ray spacecraft detected supernova wreckage from a star that erupted 1,700 years ago, ejecting debris at a speed of 2 million miles per hour.

NASA - Astronomers discovered a population of supernova remnants in the galaxy Messier 83 (M83) showing dramatic changes in brightness.

Phys.org - The findings were published in The Astrophysical Journal.

WHERE:

NASA - The observations were made in the nearby galaxy Messier 83 (M83).

Phys.org - The results were presented at a meeting in Pasadena, California.

WHEN:

Phys.org - The findings were presented at the American Astronomical Society meeting, which occurred in the year 2026.

WHY:

NASA - The unexpected brightness changes in supernova remnants challenge previous assumptions about the aftermath of stellar explosions.

HOW:

NASA - The observations were conducted using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory.

(UPDATED June 15, 2026 23:34 UTC)

NASA's Chandra X-ray spacecraft has made an exciting discovery by detecting supernova wreckage from a star that exploded 1,700 years ago. This incredible event sent debris hurtling through space at an astonishing speed of 2 million miles per hour. The findings provide valuable insights into the life cycle of stars and the dynamics of our universe.

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(UPDATED June 15, 2026 21:55 UTC)

NASA has announced the discovery of a population of supernova remnants in the nearby galaxy Messier 83, which are exhibiting dramatic changes in brightness. These findings were presented at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Pasadena, California, and published in The Astrophysical Journal. The unexpected brightness variations challenge previous assumptions about what happens after stellar explosions, with observations made using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory.