Object Analysis

The Western Veil Nebula (NGC 6960), also known as "The Witch's Broom," is a prominent part of the much larger Veil Nebula supernova remnant in the constellation Cygnus. It is the glowing edge of a massive bubble of gas created by a star that exploded roughly 10,000 to 20,000 years ago.

This specific segment is nicknamed the Witch's Broom because of its long, thin, filamentary appearance. The bright star 52 Cygni appears to be part of the nebula, but it is actually a foreground star that is much closer to Earth, coincidentally aligned with the center of the "broom."

The nebula is glowing because the shockwave from the supernova is plowing into the surrounding interstellar medium at high speed. This heats the gas to millions of degrees, causing the hydrogen (red) and oxygen (blue-green) to fluoresce. It is located about 2,400 light-years from Earth and offers a spectacular look at the aftermath of a massive stellar death.