Celestial hemisphere:  Southern  ·  Constellation: Vela (Vel)  ·  Contains:  A Vel  ·  B Vel  ·  C Vel  ·  D Vel  ·  IC 2395  ·  NGC 2626  ·  NGC 2659  ·  NGC 2660  ·  NGC 2670  ·  NGC 2671  ·  NGC 2736  ·  PK260+00.1  ·  PK260+00.2  ·  PK260-03.1  ·  PK262-04.1  ·  PK263+00.1  ·  PK264-03.1  ·  PK265-02.1  ·  PK265-04.1  ·  PK266+00.1  ·  PK266-00.1  ·  PK266-01.1  ·  PK267-03.1  ·  PK269-03.1  ·  PK270-02.1  ·  Pencil Nebula  ·  e Vel  ·  f Vel  ·  g Vel  ·  h Vel  ·  And 1 more.

Image of the day 08/30/2021

    Vela SNR, Mathew Ludgate
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    Vela SNR

    Image of the day 08/30/2021

      Vela SNR, Mathew Ludgate
      Powered byPixInsight

      Vela SNR

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      Description

      This was a project I did recently at the start of the night while I waited for my main target to get to a suitable altitude.  We are all familiar with the famous Vela SNR, however this field of view actually encompasses 3 separate SNRs. The Vela SNR is responsible for the majority of the visible shockwave filaments in this field.  The Vela SNR is located about 800 lightyears from Earth, making it one of the closest SNRs, and it is thought to have occurred 11000-12000 years ago.  As a results, its shockwaves have slowed to ~100-280 km/sec resulting in the prominent OIII and Ha emission. Towards the top right is the Puppis A SNR, which is much more distant.  At the bottom left, near the pencil nebula, there is the Vela Jr or RX J0852.0-4622 SNR.  This was discovered in 1998 and is thought to be ~650 light years away.  It is thought to be very young, possibly as little as 680 years old!  As a result, the Vela Jr shockwave speeds are >3000 km/sec so it is mainly visible in x-ray and gamma ray.  The edges of the Vela Jr SNR has numerous molecular gas clumps which are visible at radio wavelengths.  One such clump of CO emission matches closely to a visible OIII filament, that has been named the Vela claw.  This relationship raises the possibility that this OIII emission may be associated with the Vela Jr SNR rather than the main Vela SNR.

      Revision B is an annotated version showing the approximate location of the three SNRs, and the Vela claw structure.

      Revision C is a Hubble palette SHO version of this image.

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      Revisions

      • Final
        Vela SNR, Mathew Ludgate
        Original
        Vela SNR, Mathew Ludgate
        B
        Vela SNR, Mathew Ludgate
        C

      B

      Description: An annotated version showing the approximate location of the three SNRs, and the Vela claw structure.

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      C

      Description: Hubble palette SHO version of this image.

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      Vela SNR, Mathew Ludgate