An Explosion of Infrared Color

This colorful nebula is the supernova remnant IC 443. Just like humans stars have life spans as well. When stars die, depends on their mass. Stars with masses close to the suns mass planetary nebulae at the end of their lives. But stars with masses more then the suns become supernovas. This star became a supernova 5000 to 10000 years ago. The reason why it was colorful is because the super nova sent out shock waves which heated up dust and gas in the interstellar medium.

URL:http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/WISE/multimedia/gallery/pia13449.html