NGC 6960 - The Western Veil Nebula

Click here for a larger version of this image (big file) ~ Click here for the left section of the mosaic only.

NGC 6960, part of a supernova remnant, aka "The Veil Nebula" or "The Witch's Broom Nebula":

NGC6960, in the Constellation of Cygnus, makes up the western loop of the Veil Nebula, and it's commonly known as "The Witch's Broom".

Click here for Kopernik's image of the eastern loop of the Veil, NGC 6992

Click here for Kopernik's image of the "Pickering's Triangle" section of the Veil Nebula

NGC 6960 is a part of a supernova remnant that is the shattered remains of one, and possibly two, supernovae that exploded more than 15,000 years ago at a distance of 2,500 light-years from Earth. At the time of the explosion it would have been seen as a very bright star rivaling the crescent Moon. The bright star near the center of the image, known as 52 Cygni, is much closer to earth (206 light years) and is not associated with the Veil Nebula.

Parts of the nebula appear to be rope-like filaments. This is because the shock waves expanding from the supernova explosion are so thin that the shell is visible only when viewed exactly edge-on, giving the shell the appearance of filaments. Undulations in the surface of the shell lead to multiple filamentary images, which appear to be intertwined.

Even though the nebula is relatively bright, it is spread over so large an area that the surface brightness is quite low, so the nebula is notorious among astronomers as being difficult to see visually. However, an observer can see the nebula clearly in a telescope using an OIII filter (a filter isolating the wavelength of light from doubly ionized oxygen). Kopernik Observatory's telescopes, when equipped with an OIII filter, show the delicate lacework apparent in image above.

NGC 6960 Constellation: Cygnus RA: 20h 45m 42.0s Dec: +30° 43 '00" Epoch 2000 Size (mins): 70 Classification: a part of a supernova remnant; aka Witch's Broom.

52 Cygni Magnitude: 4.22 RA: 20h 45m 39.754s Dec: +30° 43' 10.975" Epoch 2000 Classification: A class K0-III red giant star at a distance of 206 light years.

George Normandin, KAS

December 11th, 2010