Shell type supernova remnants

The possibility of observing gamma ray emission from supernova remnants is discussed. It is shown that this could be possible in the 100 MeV band accessible to satellite instruments, but that confusion with the Galactic background is a major problem. At TeV energies and with modern imaging atmospheric cherenkov telescopes the situation should be much better and at least some of the nearby remnants may be detectable. Positive detections in both bands would provide a decisive test of current theoretical ideas on particle acceleration in supernova remnants and the origin of the Galactic cosmic rays.