The new image from the OmegaCAM instrument on ESO’s VLT Survey Telescope shows a spectacular part of the Vela supernova remnant.
The Vela supernova remnant, or Vela SNR, is one of the best studied supernova remnants in the sky.
Its progenitor star exploded around 11,000 years ago in the southern constellation of Vela.
The association of this supernova remnant with the Vela pulsar, made by Australian astronomers in 1968, was the direct observational evidence that supernovae form neutron stars.
“This beautiful structure of filaments and clouds in the constellation of Vela are all that remains of a massive star that died in a powerful explosion known as a supernova,” ESO astronomers said in a statement.
The new image of the Vela supernova remnant was captured by the OmegaCAM, a wide-field camera installed on ESO’s VLT Survey Telescope (VST) at Paranal Observatory in the Chilean desert.
“Even though bright stars populate this image, it’s hard to not be captivated by the pink gaseous clouds filling up the frame,” the astronomers said.
“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?” they said.
“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.”
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