NGC 6960, a dramatic insight on stellar evolution: an image.
NGC 6960, part of the famous “Veil” nebula, is the remnant of a supernova explosion happened 10000-2.000 years ago. We present this mind-blowing picture captured with our telescopes.
NGC 6960, part of the “Veil” nebula: H-alpha image.
The image above comes from the sigma-clipping combination of 12, 120-second exposures, remotely taken with the ARTEC250+Paramount ME+C3Pro61000EC robotic unit available as part of the Virtual Telescope Project facility in Manciano, Italy, under the darkest skies of the Italian peninsula.
Among the most captivating wonders of the northern, summer sky lies the nebula NGC 6960, a true cosmic fantom. This extraordinary celestial object is part of the vast Veil Nebula complex, a supernova remnant located in the constellation Cygnus, about 2,400 light-years from Earth. The image, captured by the Virtual Telescope Project, reveals an extraordinary level of detail in this region, showcasing the complexity and beauty of the material expelled by a dying star. It was obtained by isolating the H-alpha wavelength of hydrogen using a specific filter to maximize detail and contrast.
NGC 6960 represents the western fragment of the enormous filamentary structure formed following the explosion of a massive star approximately 10,000–20,000 years ago. This cataclysmic event hurled vast amounts of gas and dust into the interstellar medium, which continue to expand over time, interacting with the surrounding environment and creating the intricate luminous patterns we observe today. The star responsible has long since disappeared, but its legacy continues to shine in the night sky.
One of the most striking aspects of NGC 6960 is its visual contrast, with delicate bands of ionized gas weaving across a wide expanse of sky. The overall effect is that of an ethereal veil suspended in the cosmic void, from which the nebula derives its name. Due to its elongated and slender shape, it is also nicknamed the “Witch’s Broom,” in contrast with other sections of the Veil that take on different forms.
In the sky, NGC 6960 appears behind the bright star 52 Cygni, which is not physically associated with the nebula, it is merely a line-of-sight overlap. This makes the observation even more striking (and challenging), as the starlight seems to intertwine with the nebula’s gaseous filaments.
Observed with advanced amateur equipment or photographed with professional telescopes such as those of the Virtual Telescope Project, NGC 6960 continues to inspire wonder and curiosity. It is a cosmic memento of a star’s violent end and, at the same time, a testament to the extraordinary beauty that can arise from catastrophic events, capable of triggering the formation of new suns, new planets and life itself. In a universe in constant transformation, the Witch’s Broom is a luminous poem written among the stars.
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