XMM-Newton X-ray view of Messier 16
Date: 16 January 2012
Satellite: XMM-Newton
Depicts: Messier 16
Copyright: ESA/XMM-Newton/EPIC/XMM-Newton-SOC/Boulanger
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XMM-Newton's images of the Eagle Nebula region in X-rays, which here is colour-coded to show different energy levels (red: 0.3–1 keV, green: 1–2 keV and blue: 2–8 keV) is helping astronomers to investigate a theory that the Eagle Nebula is being powered by a hidden supernova remnant. The researchers are looking for signs of very diffuse emission and how far this extends around the region. They believe that an absence of this X-ray emission beyond that found by previous orbiting space telescopes (Chandra and Spitzer) would support the supernova remnant theory. The work on this is continuing.
Last Update: 1 September 2019