This is a composite image of N49, the brightest supernova remnant in optical light in the Large Magellanic Cloud. The Chandra X-ray image (blue) shows million-degree gas in the center. Much cooler gas at the outer parts of the remnant is seen in the infrared image from Spitzer (red). While astronomers expected that dust particles were generating most of the infrared emission, the study of this object indicates that much of the infrared is instead generated in heated gas.

The unique filamentary structure seen in the optical image by Hubble (white & yellow) has long set N49 apart from other well understood supernova remnants, as most supernova remnants appear roughly circular in visible light. Recent mapping of molecular clouds suggests that this supernova remnant is expanding into a denser region to the southeast, which would cause its asymmetrical appearance. This idea is confirmed by the Chandra data. Although X-rays reveal a round shell of emission, the X-rays also show brightening in the southeast, confirming the idea of colliding material in that area.

see http://gallery.spitzer.caltech.edu/Imagegallery/image.php?image_name=sig06-030 High quality tif files also avaliable.

	本文件完全由NASA创作，在美国属于公有领域。根据NASA的版权方针，NASA的材料除非另有声明否则不受版权保护。（参见Template:PD-USGov/zh、NASA版权方针页面或JPL图片使用方针。）
	警告: 使用NASA的标志、徽章、徽标等受到美国法律14 CFR 1221的限制。 NASA网站大量存储来自苏联或俄罗斯航天机构的图片，以及其他非美国的航天机构图片。这些文件不一定属于公有领域。 根据哈勃空间望远镜的数据制作的材料，如果不是明确声明由STScI提供，则可能受到版权保护。[1]参见{{PD-Hubble}}和{{Cc-Hubble}}。 SOHO（ESA和NASA）联合项目表示，由旗下的探测器创作的材料受版权保护，且对于商业性非教育目使用材料需要授权。[2] 每日一天文图（APOD）网站上展示的图片可能受到版权保护。[3] 国家太空科学数据中心（NSSDC）网站据信存储了受版权保护内容。其图库常见问答表明除非另有声明，图库的所有图片都属于公有领域。