Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Cygnus (Cyg)  ·  Contains:  NGC 6960  ·  The star 52 Cyg  ·  Veil Nebula
Getting plate-solving status, please wait...
Western Veil Nebula, Kris_N
Western Veil Nebula
Powered byPixInsight

Western Veil Nebula

Getting plate-solving status, please wait...
Western Veil Nebula, Kris_N
Western Veil Nebula
Powered byPixInsight

Western Veil Nebula

Equipment

Loading...

Acquisition details

Loading...

Description

Western Veil Nebula is a part of the Veil Nebula, which has a diameter of around 100 light years. It is a supernova remnant which was created after a vast and violent explosion of a giant star. Astronomers now believe that the original giant star generated such strong cosmic winds that it blew a hole right through the centre of the interstellar gases before the explosion even took place. When the star finally exploded, the shock waves generated by the explosion impacted this surrounding gaseous shell, which created the glow observers still see today. In fact, the shock wave is continuing to unfold at an estimated 40 km/second (one million miles per hour). Photos taken in 1997 and photos taken in 2015 highlight the ongoing movement within the nebula. By tracking individual knots, or filaments of hydrogen gases, astronomers can in turn track how the Veil Nebula itself is expanding and changing.

Taken over a couple of nights from a location close to central London.

Comments

Sky plot

Sky plot

Histogram

Western Veil Nebula, Kris_N