The Vela supernova remnant

This beautiful structure is what remains of a massive star that ended its life with a supernova explosion some 11 000 years ago. The core of the star collapsed, forming a pulsar, while the outermost layers were ejected into the interstellar medium, producing the filaments that we still observe. This supernova remnant is located some 800 light years away, in the southern constellation of Vela (The Sails). The astrophotograph was taken from ESO's La Silla Observatory.

Credit:

ESO/J. Pérez

About the Image

Id:velasnrlasilla
Type:Photographic
Release date:7 November 2011, 15:41
Size:3912 x 2640 px

About the Object

Name:Vela Supernova Remnant
Type:Milky Way : Nebula : Type : Supernova Remnant
Constellation:Vela
Category:Nebulae

Image Formats

Large JPEG
5.0 MB
Screensize JPEG
443.7 KB

Zoomable


Wallpapers

1024x768
464.5 KB
1280x1024
793.5 KB
1600x1200
1.1 MB
1920x1200
1.4 MB
2048x1536
1.8 MB

Coordinates

Position (RA):8 29 15.42
Position (Dec):-44° 17' 12.91"
Field of view:215.55 x 145.46 arcminutes
Orientation:North is 361.5° left of vertical