A Supernova Explosion Inside a Molecular Cloud

W44 is one of the best example of an interacting supernova remnant with its parent molecular cloud. Radio continuum measurements indicate an elongated shell-like structure with a remarkable network of filaments and arcs across the face of this remnant (Giacani et al.1977). Recent near-IR, molecular hydrogen and 4.5 micron images using {Spitzer Space Observatory} show similar filamentary structure suggesting the presence of shocked molecular gas along the synchrotron-emitting radio filaments (Reach et al. 2006). X-ray observations show diffuse emission from the central region of this remnant (Rho et al. 1994). References: Reach, W. T., Rho, J. et al. 2006, AJ, 131, 1479 Rho, J., Petre, R., Schlegel, E. M., Hester, J. 1994, ApJ, 430, 757 Giacani, E. B., Dubner, G. M. et al. 1997, AJ, 113, 1379

A radio image in red color is constructed by the "author" from archival 20cm data by combining data from observations taken in the C and D-array configurations. The original radio image is published by Giacani et al. (1997). An X-ray image in blue color is based on ROSAT observations (Rho et al. 1994). An Infrared image in green color based on SPITZER observations (Reach et al. 2006) shows the distribution of molecular gas as the remnant interacts with its parent cloud.

Legacy Astronomical Images

NRAO/AUI/NSF does not hold full copyright for this image. Contact the archivist for details.

Legacy Astronomical Image

W44

Very Large Array (VLA)

continuum

RA 18:56:2.000, Dec: 1:21:57.000 (J2000)

0.750000 x 0.666667 degrees

Contact the archivist for a high resolution tif of this image.

Galactic Sources Series

Supernova Remnants Unit