The Vela Supernova Remnant

The Vela supernova remnant - vast tendrills of ionised gas ejected after a massive star exploded in a type II supernova eruption around 11,000 years ago in the southern constellation of Vela.

This is only a portion of this still-expanding, enormous structure. All that remains of the exploded star is the Vela pulsar - a tiny, rapidly rotating neutron star just outside of the field of view at the top left.

Two panel mosaic - the top half of the image was made in 2024, the bottom half during Feb-Mar 2025.

A total of 24hrs integration for H-a and OIII, plus a few hrs RGB for the stars.