Object Analysis

The Eastern Veil Nebula (NGC 6992) is the brightest and most complex part of the Veil Nebula supernova remnant in Cygnus. While the Western Veil is a thin line, the Eastern Veil is a broad, ragged arc of delicate lace-like filaments. It is located approximately 2,400 light-years away.

High-resolution images of the Eastern Veil reveal a chaotic web of gas. These structures are formed as the supernova shockwave interacts with clouds of gas of varying densities. The result is a multi-colored tapestry of ionized gases that have been twisted and braided by the force of the explosion.

The Eastern Veil is expanding at a rate of roughly 100 kilometers per second. It is an immense structure; if the entire Veil Nebula were visible to the naked eye, it would appear six times wider than the full moon. It represents the final stage of a star's life, where its core has been recycled back into the galaxy to form new stars and planets.