The Veil Nebula

September 28, 2024

The Hubble Space Telescope has captured a stunning image of the western section of the Veil Nebula, known as Caldwell 34 or NGC 6960. This nebula is a spectacular supernova remnant that extends 110 light-years across and covers an area of the sky six times larger than the full moon. The intricate details and vibrant colors in the image highlight the beauty and complexity of this cosmic structure.

The Veil Nebula, a stunning cloud of heated and ionized gas and dust, is located in the constellation Cygnus. It is the visible portion of the Cygnus Loop, a supernova remnant formed roughly 10,000 to 20,000 years ago by the death of a massive star that was about 20 times the mass of the Sun. This cataclysmic event resulted in a spectacular explosion, leaving behind the intricate and beautiful structure we observe today.

The Veil Nebula spans an area of the sky roughly 3 degrees in diameter, which is about six times the diameter of the full Moon. It is a popular target for amateur astronomers due to its large size and the stunning detail visible through even modest telescopes. The nebula’s emissions indicate the presence of elements such as oxygen, sulfur, and hydrogen, which glow brightly when ionized by the shock waves from the supernova explosion.

Structure and Components

The Veil Nebula is divided into several distinct parts, each with its own unique features: The Western Veil (Caldwell 34): Also known as the Witch’s Broom, this section is described in the video. The Eastern Veil (Caldwell 33), also known as the Network Nebula. And Pickering’s Triangle: This part is brightest at the north-central edge of the loop and continues toward the central area of the loop.

The Veil Nebula serves as an ideal laboratory for studying the physics of supernova remnants. Its relatively close proximity to Earth, large angular size, and minimal foreground extinction make it an excellent subject. Learn more about Caldwell 34 at NASA.

The video above is intended for educational purposes and does not constitute or imply an endorsement by FutureForAll.org.