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> The Vela supernova remnant

The Vela supernova remnant

author: Tom Davis/Novapix

reference: a-snv11-00081

Image Size 300 DPI: 40 * 40 cm

Approximately 11,000 to 12,000 years ago a massive star exploded in the southern constellation of Vela. The matter ejected by the supernova scattered the contents of the star into the surrounding interstellar medium creating shock fronts of multimillion degree gas and high energy particles. The heated matter produces brilliant visible light as well as radio and x-ray emission which will continue for thousands of years until the entire remnant of the dying star completely dissipates into space. This image captures some of that filamentary and gigantic shock in visible light. Hydrogen atoms being excited by atomic collisions glow red, while oxygen appears blue-green.

Keywords for this photo:

2009 - ASTRONOMY - EVOLUTION - FALSE COLOR - H-ALPHA - SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE - STAR - SUPERNOVA - SUPERNOVA REMNANT - VELA -