HEA > ASCA > Scientific Results > X-ray observation of supernova explosion

(9) X-ray observation of supernova explosion

X-ray image of the supernova 1993J in the galaxy M81. A supernova outburst, designated SN1993J, occurred on March 28, 1993, in the nearby galaxy M81 in the constellation Ursa Majoris.

Intense X-rays from SN1993J were observed, as seen in this ASCA image taken on April 16. SN1993J(the second brightest object in the image)is only three arcminutes away from the center of M81(the brightest).

This was the first time that X-rays from a supernova where detected only ten days after outburst.

March 28, 1993, in the nearby galaxy M81 in the constellation Ursa Majoris. Intense X-rays were observed on April 16 1993, at a position three minutes away from the center of M81 and only one minute away from the nearby X-ray binary X-6. X-rays from the supernova were detected only ten days after outburst.

X-ray intensity decreased monotonically and became almost invisible on Octorber 21, 1994, as seen on the right panel of the ASCA image.

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ISAS/JAXA Department of High Energy Astrophysics