RCW 103 is a supernova remnant in the Norma constellation, around 10000 light years from earth.
We’re looking at the end result of a fairly massive star that “died” in a supernova an estimated 2000 years ago. The colourful display are the gasses that once made up the outer layers of said star. At the center of it all is a neutron star (a highly compressed version of what was once the star’s core).
Neutron stars are quite peculiar (and that’s phrasing it mildly) by their very nature. This specific one adds to that due to the fact that it’s rotating around its axis much slower than you would expect (hours instead of seconds). A potential explanation is that the neutron star might have a low mass stellar companion. Gas flowing between the two objects might cause enough gravitational interaction to slow down the rotation of the neutron star.
Image acquisition details:
10x1200" HA
18x1200” OIII
20x1200” SII
10x180" Red
10x180" Green
10x180" Blue
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