nasa: supernova

NASA:Supernova

Janet MooreNASA Educator Ambassador

1

NSTA Cincinnati

The NASA E/PO Program at Sonoma State University

A group of people working collaboratively to educate the public about current and future NASA high energy astrophysics/astronomy missions.

Led by Prof. Lynn Cominsky

Swift

Fermi (GLAST)

XMM-Newton

Supernova !

Find the supernova

Image: R. Jay GeBany

Core of star collapses

Resulting shock

disrupts envelope

Resulting shock

disrupts envelope

Star explodes

Life Cycle of a Supernova

Stellar evolution made simple

Stars like the Sun go gentle into that good night

More massive stars rage, rage against the dying of the light

Puff!

Bang!

BANG!

0.077 ~8 Mo

~8 ~20 Mo

~20 ~100 Mo

Rare Look at a Supernova

XRT UVOT

Swift Images of NGC 2770

2008 January 7:00 UT

Rare Look at a Supernova

Swift Images of NGC 2770

XRT UVOT2008 January 9:00 UT

Three Supernova Activities

•Fishing for Supernovae•Crawl of the Crab•Magnetic Poles and Pulsars

Three Supernova Activities

•Fishing for Supernovae•Crawl of the Crab•Magnetic Poles and Pulsars

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Three Supernova Activities

•Fishing for Supernovae•Crawl of the Crab•Magnetic Poles and Pulsars

Crawl of the Crab

Crawl of the CrabWe will use

two pictures of the Crab Nebula

1956

1999

Crab Pulsar

Lots of Knots

Measuring Expansion Gives Age

1.Assume pulsar remains at center of nebula

2.Knots came from star, were blown out by the supernova, and travel at a constant velocity in a constant direction

3.If we can calculate that velocity, we can calculate how long to get from the star to the “current” location

Measuring Expansion Gives Age

• - OR -

• Use one of the knots to make a proportion!

• Distance in 43 years = Total Distance

• 43 (years) Total Time

So, let’s get started!•Packet

•Rulers

•Calculators

•Do NOT do graphing part

•Each group choose ONE knot to make calculations from

Your ResultsAccording to your calculations, in what year did the supernova

occur?

Why might we get different answers for different knots?

How might you use this in your classroom?

Questions?

Thank You!Janet Moore

JanetMoore@gmail.com

My Other Workshops:

DARK MATTER9:30 am - Room 263NEWTON’S LAWS 11:00 am - Room 207

PI IN THE SKY 3:30 - Room 262

http://www.astro.princeton.edu/~alicia/SN2008D/

Additional Information