Eye on the Sky: Cygnus Loop Nebula

April 10, 2012 at 11:08 am | Posted in Eye on the Sky, Regular Feature, Science News | Leave a comment
Tags: Galaxy Evolution Explorer, nasa

Ultra violet image taken by NASA’s Galaxy Evolution Explorer.  The Cygnus Loop Nebula is a leftover supernova remnant of the massive explosion that occurred 5,000-8,000 years ago.  What you are seeing is gas and dust heated by the shockwave of the supernova that is still spreading outward from the explosion.  Although the nebula is 1,500 light years away, the supernova was still bright enough to be seen from Earth when it exploded.

(via: NASA)

Posted by Synlah for Roqoo Depot