Supernova remnants are the glowing debris of immense stellar explosions. When a massive star is torn apart as a supernova at the end of its life, or a white dwarf perishes in a thermonuclear blast, it hurls its material into space at thousands of kilometres per second. Over thousands of years these shells expand, making the surrounding gas glow and forming delicate, filamentary structures. The Veil Nebula in Cygnus is perhaps the best-known example and a classic narrowband target. Oxygen often appears in soft blue-green and hydrogen in deep red. Photographically, supernova remnants are demanding: they are extended, faint, and reveal their delicate structure only in long narrowband exposures under dark skies. That is exactly what makes them such rewarding, striking targets. This page gathers every supernova remnant I have photographed so far. Click into any object to learn more about it and see all the astrophoto posts it appears in.
Caldwell 33, also known as the Eastern Veil Nebula, is part of a supernova remnant in the constellation Cygnus, located about 2,500 light-years away. It reaches its culmination around astronomical midnight during the first days of August ...
The Western Veil Nebula is a supernova remnant located in the constellation Cygnus, approximately 1,470 light-years away from Earth, reaching its annual culmination at astronomical midnight in early August ...
The Crab Nebula is a supernova remnant in the constellation Taurus, located 6,520 light-years from Earth, and reaches its annual culmination at astronomical midnight and is best observed mid December ...
The Bat Nebula, a small portion of the Eastern Veil Nebula located in the constellation Cygnus approximately 2,400 light-years away, reaches its annual culmination at astronomical midnight early August ...
The Cygnus Loop is a large supernova remnant in the constellation Cygnus, and reaches its annual culmination at astronomical midnight and is best observed early August ...
The supernova SN 2022hrs was discovered on 04/16/2022 ...
The supernova SN 2023ixf was discovered on 05/19/2023 ...
