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Credit & Copyright: Francis Bozon-Gangloff
Explanation:
Can you see the bat?
It haunts this cosmic close-up of the eastern
Veil Nebula.
The
Veil Nebula itself is a
large supernova remnant, the expanding debris cloud from the
death explosion of a massive
star.
While the Veil is roughly
circular in shape and covers nearly 3 degrees
on the sky toward the constellation of the Swan
(Cygnus), NGC 6995, known informally as the Bat Nebula,
spans only 1/2 degree, about the apparent size
of the Moon.
That translates to 12 light-years at the Veil's
estimated distance, a reassuring 1,400 light-years from
planet Earth.
In the composite of image data recorded through several
narrow band filters, emission from
hydrogen
atoms is shown in red and strong emission from
oxygen
atoms is shown in hues of blue.
Of course, in the western part of the Veil lies
another seasonal apparition:
the Witch's Broom Nebula.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Veil Nebula
Publications with words: Veil Nebula
See also:
- APOD: 2025 June 2 Á Veil Nebula: Wisps of an Ancient Supernova
- APOD: 2024 September 4 Á NGC 6995: The Bat Nebula
- APOD: 2023 November 21 Á Flemings Triangular Wisp
- APOD: 2023 October 18 Á Dust and the Western Veil Nebula
- Supernova Remnant: The Veil Nebula
- NGC 6995: The Bat Nebula
- Flemings Triangular Wisp