Flower-Like Supernova Remnant Blossoms in Musca Constellation

An oddly-shaped supernova remnant born out of a thermonuclear explosion in the constellation of Musca has puzzled scientists since it was first observed. NASA published a stunning new image of the exploded star offering an insight into the flower-like celestial structure.

Exploded star blooms like a cosmic flower! @ChandraXray observes supernova remnant: http://t.co/U3cqP1dvw6 pic.twitter.com/qS5ygUNJM1

— NASA (@NASA) 12 февраля 2015

G299.2-2.9, as it is formally known, was left by a Type Ia supernova, which occurr in binary systems, consisting of two white dwarfs or a white dwarf and a giant star. Such supernovae usually leave behind bright perfect spheres. But contrary to the laws of physics or at least our understanding of them, the enigmatic G299.2-2.9 is expanding differently in various directions.

Scientists still don’t know the exact reason for that but they offer a number of explanations. Having analyzed the X-rays taken by NASA’s Chandra Observatory, researchers came to a conclusion that the explosion itself could have been lopsided.

"It might also be that the remnant has been expanding into an environment where the medium it encountered was uneven," Chandra said in a press release.

The G299.2-2.9 supernova remnant is located approximately 16,000 light years away from the Earth in the Milky Way. The explosion, which created it, is estimated to have occurred 4,500 years ago.