The remnant of the well-known supernova in this X-ray image may hold a clue to the formation of cosmic rays.

First observed in 1572 by Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, this supernova appears to have generated a shockwave that produced immense amounts of high-energy cosmic rays. The find sheds some light on the genesis of cosmic rays, since supernova shock waves were a prime suspect as their source.

Astronomers used the space-based Chandra X-ray observatory to observe the supernova remnant, which sits about 7,500 light-years from Earth.

While the discovery uncovers some of the mystery surrounding the source of cosmic rays, astronomers also believe the high-energy radiation may be produced in solar flares in stars, pulsars, or in the accretion disk of a black hole.

“With only a single object involved, we can’t state with confidence that supernova shock waves are the primary source of cosmic rays,” explained study co-author John Hughes, of Rutgers University, in a statement. “What we have done is present solid evidence that the shockwave in at least one supernova remnant has accelerated nuclei to cosmic ray energies.”

This image of Tycho Brahe’s supernova was released last week, but originally recorded by Chandra during a 41-hour observation beginning on April 29, 2003.

-- SPACE.com Staff

Credit: NASA/CXC/Rutgers/J.Warren & J.Hughes.