Transcript Background Presentation

NASA:
Supernova
Janet Moore
NASA Educator
Ambassador
NSTA Cincinnati
1
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.
Swift
Led by Prof. Lynn Cominsky
Fermi (GLAST)
XMM-Newton
Supernova !
Find the supernova
Image: R. Jay GeBany
k
e
Core of star collapses
Resulting shock
disrupts envelope
Star explodes
Life Cycle of a
Supernova
Stellar evolution made
simple
Puff!
0.077 ~8 Mo
Bang!
~8 ~20 Mo
BANG!
~20 ~100 Mo
Stars like the Sun go gentle into that good night
More massive stars rage, rage against the dying of the light
Rare Look at a Supernova
XRT
2008 January 7:00 UT
UVOT
Swift Images of NGC 2770
Rare Look at a Supernova
XRT
2008 January 9:00 UT
UVOT
Swift Images of NGC 2770
Three Supernova Activities
•Fishing for Supernovae
Crawl of the
•Crawl of the Crab
Crab
•Magnetic Poles and Pulsars
10
Crawl of the Crab
1956
We will use two
pictures of the
Crab Nebula
Crab Pulsar
1999
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 =
Distance
•
43 (years)
Total
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 Results
According 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
[email protected]
My Other Workshops:
DARK MATTER
9:30 am - Room 263
NEWTON’S LAWS 11:00 am - Room 207
PI IN THE SKY
3:30 - Room 262
Additional Information
http://www.astro.princeton.edu/~alicia/SN2008D/