The Eastern Veil Nebula
also known as part of the Veil Nebula, is a delicate emission nebula located in the constellation Cygnus. It forms part of the expanding remains of a supernova explosion that occurred thousands of years ago. The fine, filament-like structures are created as shock waves travel through the surrounding gas, causing it to glow in wispy strands. Located around 2,000 light-years from Earth, it offers a glimpse into the dynamic and ever-changing nature of our universe. The expanding shell now spans an area of the sky several times larger than the full Moon, revealing the immense scale of this ancient cosmic event.
This image combines 16 hours of exposure, made from 96 individual 10 minute sub-exposures captured over 14 nights between August and October 2023 from a back garden in Prestwick (Scotland) using a dedicated astrophotography setup.
Did you know?
The Eastern Veil Nebula is the glowing aftermath of a star that ended its life in a colossal supernova explosion. For a short time, that single dying star would have shone as brightly as billions of Suns, briefly outshining almost every other star in our galaxy.
The delicate filaments seen today are not gentle clouds, but shock waves still racing through space at hundreds of thousands of kilometres per hour. Although the explosion happened thousands of years ago, the nebula continues to expand and evolve before our eyes.
The iron in your blood, the calcium in your bones and many of the elements that make life possible were forged inside stars that ended their lives in explosions like this. In a very real sense, the Veil Nebula is showing us how the Universe creates the ingredients for planets — and for us.