wide field astrophotography
The Cygnus Loop (Sh2-103, W78) was formed about 5,000 to 20,000 years ago when a massive star reached the end of its life, exploded in a supernova, and left behind a vast, expanding cloud of gas and dust known as a supernova remnant. This explosion was likely contained within a cavity created by the star's own stellar winds, which shaped the resulting debris into a spectacular, filamentary structure.
Camera: ASI2600MC | Scope: 61mm WO Zenithstar 61 | Exposure: 2h 33m | Date: 2023-07-21 & 2023-08-12
Image updated to combine 57minutes of additional data collected
This stellar phenomenon is made of heated and ionized gases, primarily hydrogen and oxygen, with significant amounts of sulfur and some neon also detected in its structure. These gases, are excited by the powerful shockwaves from the supernova that created the remnant, causing them to glow with distinct colours.
annotated version detailing some of the surrounding deep sky objects
Made up of several arcs of gas and dust, the Cygnus Loop is located approximately 2,400 light-years from Earth. These arc are known separately as the Eastern Veil Nebula (NGC 6992, NGC 6995 aka Bat Nebula), the Western Veil Nebula (NGC 6960 aka Witche’s Broom Nebula) and Pickering's Triangle (NGC 6979 aka Fleming's Triangle)..
Also see image and info on Western Veil Nebula (NGC 6960 aka Witche’s Broom Nebula) at https://bluespeck.ca/ngc6960.
Click here for additional (close up) images of NGC 6960 Western Veil Nebula
