NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory has identified the supernova wreckage of a dead star at the heart of the Milky Way, offering a rare glimpse into a cosmic explosion that occurred 1,700 years ago. The debris field was found near the galaxy's central supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A*.
The stellar remnant is ejecting material at an astonishing 2 million miles per hour, according to Chandra data. Such speeds are characteristic of violent supernova events, where the outer layers of a massive star are blasted into space after its core collapses.
The explosion took place roughly 1,700 years ago, placing it in Earth's historical timeline around the 4th century. The detection marks one of the most recent supernovae identified within the Milky Way, though its light was likely obscured by dense gas and dust near the galactic center.
This discovery provides astronomers with a unique laboratory to study how supernovae enrich the interstellar medium with heavy elements — the building blocks of planets and life. It also helps refine models of stellar death in the crowded, chaotic environment of the galactic hub.
"The wreckage is traveling at breakneck speeds, and Chandra's sharp X-ray vision was key to spotting it," the Space.com report notes. The finding adds to a growing catalog of supernova remnants near the Milky Way's core, where star formation and destruction occur at an accelerated pace.