NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has captured a stunning image of the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A (Cas A) in near-infrared light. The image shows the explosive remnants colliding with gas released by the star before the explosion. The high resolution of Webb’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) allows scientists to see how the star shattered when it exploded, leaving behind filaments resembling tiny shards of glass. This image provides transformational insight into the explosion and reveals that Cas A contains the materials for new stars and planets. The image also captures a light echo, known as “Baby Cas A,” which is caused by far-away dust being warmed by the supernova’s light.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/james-webb-telescope-captures-image-of-supernova-that-absolutely-shattered-a-star-180983421/