Zeta Ophiuchi is a very massive, hot, bright blue star that once had a companion that exploded as a supernova. Zeta Ophiuchi was once in close orbit with another star, before being ejected when this companion was destroyed in a supernova explosion; infrared data from Spitzer reveal a spectacular shock wave (red and green) that was formed by matter blowing away from the star’s surface and slamming into gas in its path; data from Chandra (blue) show...
