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D.C. Hines (Space Science Institute), G.H. Rieke, K.D. Gordon (U. Arizona), J. Rho (Spitzer Science Center), K.A. Misselt (U. Arizona), C.E. Woodward (U. Minnesota), M.W. Werner (JPL), W.B. Latter (Spitzer Science Center), C.W. Engelbracht, E. Egami, D.M. Kelly, O. Krause, J. Muzerolle, J.A. Stansberry, K.Y.L. Su, E.T. Young (U. Arizona), A. Noriega-Crespo, D.L. Padgett (Spitzer Science Center), R.D. Gehrz, E. Polomski (U. Minnesota)
The supernova remnant (SNR) Cas~A has been imaged at 24\mum, 70\mum and 160\mum with the Multiband Imaging Photometer for Spitzer (MIPS). The 24\mu and 70\mum images are well resolved and dominated by thermal emission from dust within the SNR and associated with emission line gas inside the reverse shock region, confirming earlier IRAS and ISO results for ~ 24\mum and extending this result to 70\mum. The 160\mum image is heavily saturated. Faint 24\mum emission is associated with the outermost regions of the X-ray continuum images, which is presumably the location of the forward shock. Therefore, the SNR is beginning to sweep up and heat some ISM dust at this shock front. The 24\mum and 70\mum images also reveal a structure that appears to be a counter-jet to the well-known North-East jet feature imaged previously at X-ray, optical, and radio wavelengths. This infrared feature corresponds well with optical Fast Moving Knots (FMKs) confirming its outflow nature. The twin jet-like features define a symmetry axis that bisects the SNR, and suggest that the supernova explosion was similar in this regard to SN 1987A. The MIPS maps resolve details of the structure of the ISM surrounding Cas A that may be indicative of interaction between Cas~A and the ISM.
This work is based [in part] on observations made with the Spitzer Space Telescope, which is operated by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology under NASA contract 1407. Support for this work was provided by NASA through Contract Number 960785 issued by JPL/Caltech.
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 36 #2
© YEAR. The American Astronomical Soceity.