This image of data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and the
European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope shows a
part of the roughly circular supernova remnant known as RCW 86.
This remnant is the remains of an exploded star, which may have
been observed on Earth in 185 AD by Chinese astronomers. By
studying this remnant, a team of astronomers was able to
understand new details about the role of supernova remnants as
the Milky Way's super-efficient particle accelerators. The team
shows that the shock wave visible in this area is very efficient
at accelerating particles and the energy used in this process
matches the number of cosmic rays observed on Earth. -Kimberly
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