Giant cosmic networks

Sometimes dramatic events are needed to create something stunning. This beautiful structure of filaments and clouds in the southern constellation of Vela are all that remains of a massive star that died in a powerful explosion known as supernova. This is a small section of a larger image taken using the wide-field camera OmegaCAM at the VLT Survey Telescope (VST). Hosted at ESO’s Paranal Observatory in the Chilean desert, the VST is one of the best telescopes in the world to take large images of the sky in visible light.

Even though bright stars populate this image, it's hard to not be captivated by the pink gaseous clouds filling up the frame. Some tiny, others thicker, the filaments stretch outwards like tentacles. As they intertwine and cling together, an intricate network is formed which mixes with blurred clouds. But how did they come to be like this?

Around 11 000 years ago, a massive star exploded as a supernova, ejecting its outer layers. The explosion also generated shock waves which traveled outwards, compressing the gas around the star and creating the intricate network visible in the image. The result of such explosions are called supernova remnants. At 800 light years away from Earth, the Vela supernova remnant is one of the closest known to us.

Crédit:

ESO/VPHAS+ team. Acknowledgement: Cambridge Astronomical Survey Unit

À propos de l'image

Identification:potw2322a
Type:Observation
Date de publication:29 mai 2023 06:00
Taille:6697 x 6698 px

À propos de l'objet

Nom:Vela Supernova Remnant
Type:Milky Way : Nebula : Type : Supernova Remnant
Distance:800 années lumière
Constellation:Vela
Catégorie:Nebulae

Image Formats

Grand JPEG
12,9 Mio
JPEG taille écran
411,7 Kio

Zoomable


Fonds d'écran

1024x768
361,2 Kio
1280x1024
546,7 Kio
1600x1200
733,7 Kio
1920x1200
825,9 Kio
2048x1536
1,1 Mio

Coordinates

Position (RA):8 33 49.52
Position (Dec):-43° 39' 4.37"
Field of view:24.62 x 24.63 arcminutes
Orientation:North is 0.4° left of vertical

Couleurs & filtres

DomaineLongueur d'ondeTélescope
Visible
u
350 nmVLT Survey Telescope
OmegaCAM
Visible
g
480 nmVLT Survey Telescope
OmegaCAM
Visible
r
625 nmVLT Survey Telescope
OmegaCAM
Visible
H-alpha
659 nmVLT Survey Telescope
OmegaCAM
Visible
i
770 nmVLT Survey Telescope
OmegaCAM