
SpaceMore in Space→
NASA's IXPE Finds Expansion Mystery Solved in 2,000-Year-Old Supernova
Key Takeaways
- NASA's IXPE detected a 'reflected shock effect' at the rim of RCW 86 where its unusually rapid expansion has halted
- The Chandra observatory had previously found a low-density cavity surrounding the remnant that caused abnormally fast expansion
- The new finding explains the expansion halt as a shock wave bouncing back from the cavity's edge, confirmed by IXPE's unique polarimetric capability
DE
DT Editorial Team··via nasa.gov