Spooky Blue Remains Of An Ancient Cosmic Explosion Captured By NASA In New Image
The Cygnus Loop nebula was created in the aftermath of a cosmic explosion thousands of years ago. Now, blue clouds remain - looking like a corpse stuck in time.
Do you think space is spooky? With all its emptiness and dark silence, space can look like an eerie and unforgiving place. NASA's recent image is testimony to the same.
NASA recently shared a picture of the Cygnus Loop in all its haunting glory. The Cygnus Loop nebula was created in the aftermath of a cosmic explosion thousands of years ago. Now, blue clouds remain - looking like a corpse stuck in time. "The wispy blue swirls of the Cygnus Loop nebula are the result of a massive stellar explosion that occurred 5,000 to 8,000 years ago," NASA wrote on Instagram.
"However, the shockwave from this explosion is still spreading out through space. Supernova remnants like this nebula play an important role in stellar evolution, enriching space with heavy elements and spurring the formation of new stars by compressing stellar gas."
NASA
A remnant of a cosmic explosion
The ultraviolet (UV) image was clicked by the Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX). What we see in the image is essentially gas and dust that were heated by the supernova's shockwave. "GALEX was an orbiting space telescope that made observations at UV wavelengths to measure the history of stars forming in the universe¡ªnearly all the way back to the Big Bang," NASA wrote on Instagram.
Also read: Hard To Detect Ultra-Faint Dwarf Galaxy Discovered On Outskirts Of Andromeda
NASA
The Cygnus Loop nebula is situated about 2,600 light-years away from Earth. It is made up of oxygen, hydrogen, and sulfur and studies suggest that the oxygen in this nebula emits light at 33,315 degree Celsius.
NASA
The Cygnus Loop is a group of bright nebulae - Lacework nebula, Veil nebula, and the nebulae NGC 6960, 6979, 6992, and 6995. It is situated in the constellation Cygnus.
Also read: One Of The Largest Stars In Milky Way Galaxy Captured Dying By Astronomers
What do you think about this blue beauty so far away from our planet? Let us know in the comments below. For more in the world of technology and science, keep reading Indiatimes.com.
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