Radioactive Clouds in the Milky Way
Explanation:
When
massive stars explode
they create large radioactive
blast clouds which expand into interstellar space.
As the radioactive elements decay, they produce
gamma-rays. Possible locations of these stellar explosions
known as supernovae,
are indicated by the bright clumps
in this map of the central regions of our Milky Way Galaxy.
The map was made by a telescope onboard NASA's orbiting
Compton Gamma Ray Observatory
using detectors sensitive to
gamma rays from the decay of radioactive aluminum.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
