What has the Chandra X-ray Observatory revealed about the interior of the Cat's Eye Nebula?
Answer
High-energy gas heated to millions of degrees
X-ray data indicates that the interior of the nebula contains gas heated to temperatures reaching millions of degrees. This high-energy state is the physical consequence of energetic stellar winds colliding with previously ejected, slower-moving material. This interaction generates a shock front, which is responsible for the diffuse X-ray glow detected at the center of the structure.
Related Questions
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