The Medulla Nebula

About This Photograph

Over 130 hours of exposure time through two different telescopes, using special filters that isolate light from sulfur (yellow), hydrogen (red), and oxygen (blue), were required to produce this photograph of the extremely faint Medulla Nebula. Also known as Abell 85 and CTB-1, it is a supernova remnant, the remains of a star that exploded after consuming most of its hydrogen fuel around 10,000 years ago. The fast-moving shell of gas is now expanding into a region of diffuse, patchy gas and dust that contains even fainter filaments, likely the remains of even older supernovas.

Publication Data for this Photograph