G1.9+0.3 is a supernova remnant (SNR) in the constellation of Sagittarius. It is the youngest-known SNR in the Milky Way, resulting from an explosion the light from which would have reached Earth some time between 1890 and 1908.[1] The explosion was not seen from Earth as it was obscured by the dense gas and dust of the Galactic Center, where it occurred.[2] The remnant's young age was established by combining data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and the VLA radio observatory. It was a type Ia supernova.[2][3][4] The remnant has a radius of over 1.3 light-years.
 | |
| Event type | Supernova remnant |
|---|---|
| Date | c. 27,600 years ago (discovered 1984) |
| Instrument | VLA radio telescope |
| Constellation | Sagittarius |
| Right ascension | 17h 48m 45.4s |
| Declination | −27° 10′ 06″ |
| Distance | c. 27,700 ly |
| Host | Milky Way |
| Progenitor | 2 White dwarfs |
| Other designations | NVSS J174846-270950, F3R 101, RFS 24, [SKM2002] 41, [SKM2002] G001.9+0.3, [ADP79] 001.873+0.323, MGPS J174846-270950 |
| Preceded by | SN 1604 (observed), Cassiopeia A (unobserved, c. 1680) |
| Followed by | SN 1885A |
 Related media on Commons | |
Discovery
editG1.9+0.3 was first identified as an SNR in 1984 from observations made with the VLA radio telescope.[5] Because of its unusually small angular size, it was thought to be young—less than about one thousand years old. In 2007, X-ray observations made with the Chandra X-ray Observatory revealed that the object was about 15% larger than in the earlier VLA observations.[6] Further observations made with the VLA in 2008 verified increase in size, implying it is no more than 150 years old.[7] A more recent estimate put its observable age at 110 years as of the data collection in 2008.[3] That study also found that it was probably triggered by the merger of two white dwarf stars.[3]
Announcement
editThe discovery that G1.9+0.3 had been identified as the youngest-known Galactic SNR was announced on May 14, 2008 at a NASA press conference. In the days leading up to the announcement, NASA said that they were going "to announce the discovery of an object in our Galaxy astronomers have been hunting for more than 50 years."[8] Before this discovery, the youngest-known Milky Way supernova remnant was Cassiopeia A, at about 330 years.
References
edit- ^ "G1.9+0.3: Discovery of Most Recent Supernova in Our Galaxy". Chandra X-ray Observatory. NASA. 2008-05-14. Retrieved 2008-05-14.
- ^ a b "G1.9+0.3: The Remarkable Remains of a Recent Supernova". Chandra X-ray Observatory. NASA. 2013-06-26. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
- ^ a b c "Trigger for Milky Way's Youngest Supernova Identified" (Press release). NASA. March 30, 2016. Retrieved 2017-01-22.
- ^ Chakraborti, Sayan; Childs, Francesca; Soderberg, Alicia (February 25, 2016). "Young Remnants of Type Ia Supernovae and Their Progenitors: A Study Of SNR G1.9+0.3". The Astrophysical Journal. 819 (1): 37. arXiv:1510.08851. Bibcode:2016ApJ...819...37C. doi:10.3847/0004-637X/819/1/37. S2CID 119246128.
- ^ Green, D.A.; S.F. Gull (December 1984). "Two new young galactic supernova remnants". Nature. 312 (5994): 527–529. Bibcode:1984Natur.312..527G. doi:10.1038/312527a0. S2CID 4355199.
- ^ Reynolds, S. P.; K. J. Borkowski; D. A. Green; U. Hwang; I. Harrus; R. Petre (June 2008). "The Youngest Galactic Supernova Remnant: G1.9+0.3". Astrophysical Journal Letters. 680 (1). American Astronomical Society: L41–L44. arXiv:0803.1487. Bibcode:2008ApJ...680L..41R. doi:10.1086/589570. S2CID 67766657.
- ^ Green, D. A.; S. P. Reynolds; K. J. Borkowski; U. Hwang; I. Harrus; R. Petre (June 2008). "The radio expansion and brightening of the very young supernova remnant G1.9+0.3". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Letters. 387 (1). Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: L54–L58. arXiv:0804.2317. Bibcode:2008MNRAS.387L..54G. doi:10.1111/j.1745-3933.2008.00484.x. S2CID 18759493.
- ^ "NASA to Announce Success of Long Galactic Hunt" (Press release). NASA. 2008-05-07. Archived from the original on 2021-03-30. Retrieved 2008-05-14.
External links
edit- Green, Dave. "Dave Green's research: G1.9+0.3". University of Cambridge.
- "SNR G001.9+00.3". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg.