A Quick Look at Cassiopeia A

A new image of the Cassiopeia A (Cas A) supernova remnant shows the location of different elements including iron, calcium, sulfur, and silicon.

These elements, along with others like oxygen also found in Cassiopeia A, are responsible for life on Earth.

Astronomers study supernova remnants to better understand exactly how stars produce and disseminate elements throughout the cosmos.

Supernova remnants and the elements they produce are very hot — millions of degrees — and glow strongly in X-ray light.

Chandra's sharp X-ray vision allows scientists to determine both the amount and location of these crucial elements objects like Cas A produce.