Astrophotography by Anthony Ayiomamitis

Supernova Remnant Image Gallery

Supernova remnants represent the residual effects of massive stars which have reached the end of their life-cycle, including a massive stellar explosion as a grand finale, and which leave behind them spectacular gas clouds and stellar remnants (neutrinos) which cover multiple full moons in width across the sky. Regrettably, for residents of the northern hemisphere, only four supernova remnants (SNR) are visible and, more specifically, the Crab Nebula (M1) in Taurus, the massive Veil complex (NGC 6960, 6974, 6979, 6992, 6995) in Cygnus, the Jellyfish Nebula (IC 433) in Gemini and Simeis 147 (aka Shajn 147, Sh 2-240) also in Taurus. The most recognized supernova remnant is perhaps the Crab nebula in Taurus which is believed to have exploded in 1054 AD as documented by Chinese astronomers of the time whereas Simeis 147 is especially dim and represents one of the faintest objects in the sky.

Note: An area approximately three square degrees just to the south of å-Cyg (mag 2.46) hosts one of the most dramatic examples of a supernova remnant. Commonly referred to as the Veil Complex due to multiple large areas of nebulosity, the area is characterized with an extended remnant to the east comprised of NGC 6992, 6995 and IC1340; a central remnant comprised of NGC 6974, 6979 and Simeis 3-188 (Pickering's Triangle); and the western remnant surrounding 52-Cyg (mag 4.22) and catalogued as NGC 6960. Herschel was the first to discover the various nebulosities in 1825 and who treated them as independent entities and, hence, for the various NGC assignments. The Veil complex is 1400 to 2600 light-years away and spans another 50 light-years in diameter. It is very difficult to see naked eye but trivial with a modest telescope and an O-III filter which reveals tremendous filamentary detail and interwined wisps of nebulosity. It is believed that this SNR is a from a star which exploded 5000 to 8000 years ago.

Please click on the image below to display in higher resolution (900 x 1200)

Image Details
IC 1340 - Supernova Remnant in Cygnus
Imaging Details
IC Number:
1340

Common Name(s):
South Eastern Veil
Filamentary Nebula
Network Nebula
Lacework Nebula


Other Designations:
Ced 182c

Object Type:
Bright Nebula

Object Classif:
SNR

Constellation:
Cygnus

RA / Dec:
20h 57m 06s /
31° 13' 00"


Distance:
1400 - 2600 ly

Object Size:
12'

Magnitude:
7.0
Date:
Aug 08-09, 2007
22:20 - 02:55 UT+3


Location:
Athens, Greece

Equipment:
AP 160 f/7.5 StarFire EDF
AP 1200GTO GEM
SBIG ST-2000XM
SBIG CFW10
SBIG LRGB + IR-block


Integrations:
Lum :  090 min (15 x 06 min)
Red :  060 min (06 x 10 min)
Green :  060 min (06 x 10 min)
Blue :  060 min (06 x 10 min)
Dark :  240 min (15 x 6+10 min)
Flat :  ~ 39,500 ADU
Binning :  1x1 (Lum),  1x1 (RGB)

Temperatures:
Ambient : + 27.4 ° C
CCD Chip : - 07.5 ° C

Software:
CCDSoft V5.00.182
AIP4Win V2.1.19
Photoshop CS2