This illustrated figure depicts the 3D model of the V745 Sco explosion. The blast wave is yellow, the mass ejected by the explosion is purple, and the disk of cooler material, which is mostly untouched by the effects of the blast wave, is blue. The cavity visible on the left side of the ejected material is the result of the debris from the white dwarf’s surface being slowed down as it strikes the red giant.
Client
NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory
Project Type
Science visualization
Category
Astrophysics
Credit
NASA/CXC/Melissa Weiss
This was the original 3D model that wasn’t quite as appealing as the Chandra team wanted.
Color and texture adjustments were requested without straying too far from the original model. The starry background was also included to provide more context.