Astronomers Spot a Possible Supernova Remnant Near the Milky Way's Supermassive Black Hole

Supernova remnants are what remains after a massive star undergoes gravitational collapse and explodes, shedding its outer layers into an expanding cloud of gas and dust. The heavy elements these clouds contain, such as iron, oxygen, and silicon, are critical to the formation of new planets and the emergence of life as we know it. Using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, an international team of astronomers has found a potential remnant in the vicinity of the supermassive black hole (SMBH) at the center of the Milky Way.