Here is a new #Hubble image of the Veil Nebula, a well-known supernova remnant located some 2,400 ly from Earth in Cygnus.
It's what remains of a massive star, approximately 20 times larger than our Sun, that exploded about 10,000 years ago.
Reference➡️ https://esahubble.org/images/potw2508a/
🔭 🧪 🧵
It's what remains of a massive star, approximately 20 times larger than our Sun, that exploded about 10,000 years ago.
Reference➡️ https://esahubble.org/images/potw2508a/
🔭 🧪 🧵
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The new image, obtained with Hubble's Wide Field Camera 3 instrument, combines data collected through three different filters, which highlight the emissions of hydrogen, sulfur and oxygen, offering a detailed view of a portion of the nebula.
From a scientific point of view, this observation is significant because it allows scientists to deepen their understanding of the evolution of supernova remnants.
Supernovae are fundamental events in the universe: they mark the end of massive stars' life and disperse heavy chemical elements
(such as oxygen and sulfur) into space, contributing to the formation of new stars and planets.
By comparing this new image with those taken by Hubble in 1994, scientists can analyze the motion of the filaments and knots of gas over decades.
In addition, the use of specific filters to detect the emissions of different elements allows the chemical composition of the nebula to be mapped. This is crucial for understanding the cycles of production and distribution of elements in the Universe, a key field of study in astrophysics.
From a technological point of view, Hubble's work demonstrates the effectiveness of advanced instruments such as the Wide Field Camera 3 and highlights the importance of space missions in collecting data that would be inaccessible from the ground due to the Earth's atmosphere.
These observations not only improve our current knowledge, but also serve as a basis for calibrating and developing future technologies, such as even more powerful telescopes.