Figure 12-12 Supernovae Proceed Irregularly Images (a) and (b) are computer simulations showing the chaotic flow of gas deep inside the star as it begins to explode as a supernova. This uneven flow helps account for the globs of iron and other heavy elements emitted from deep inside, as well as the lopsided distribution of all elements in the supernova remnant, as shown in (c), (d), and (e). These three pictures are X-ray images of supernova remnant Cassiopeia A taken by the Chandra Observatory at different wavelengths.