Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                 2026 June 2
    [2]The starfield is filled with many red nebulas, areas of dark dust,
   and light blue filaments. Please see the explanation for more detailed
                                information.

                         The Vela Supernova Remnant
                 Image Credit & Copyright: [3]José Mtanous

   Explanation: The explosion is over, but the consequences continue.
   About twelve thousand years ago, a relatively normal star in the
   constellation [4]Vela suddenly [5]exploded, creating a strange point of
   light briefly visible to humans living near the beginning of
   [6]recorded history. The outer layers of the star crashed into the
   [7]interstellar medium, driving a [8]shock wave that is still visible
   today. The [9]featured image, taken piecemeal over 60 hours from the
   [10]Khomas Region of [11]Namibia, captures some of that filamentary and
   gigantic shock in [12]visible light, with details highlighted by
   [13]hydrogen (red) and [14]oxygen (blue) emissions. As gas flies away
   from the detonated star, it [15]decays and reacts with the
   [16]interstellar medium, producing light in many different colors and
   energy bands. Remaining at the center of the [17]Vela Supernova Remnant
   is a [18]pulsar, a star as dense as nuclear matter that [19]spins
   around more than ten times in a single second.

               Explore the Universe: [20]Random APOD Generator
                       Tomorrow's picture: open space
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    Authors & editors: [32]Robert Nemiroff ([33]MTU) & [34]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([35]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [36]Specific rights apply.
            [37]NASA Web Privacy, [38]Accessibility, [39]Notices;
                A service of: [40]ASD at [41]NASA / [42]GSFC,
                         [43]NASA Science Activation
                           & [44]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2606/Vela_Mtanous_2900.jpg
   3. https://www.instagram.com/jmtanous/
   4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vela_(constellation)
   5. https://youtu.be/wymMn-SmALY
   6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cave_painting
   7. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap130924.html
   8. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap210414.html
   9. https://app.astrobin.com/u/jmtanous?i=qkfmgy
  10. https://youtu.be/lw5zT530rb4
  11. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namibia
  12. https://science.nasa.gov/ems/09_visiblelight/
  13. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen-alpha
  14. https://science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-oxygen-magnetic-field-linked/
  15. https://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/observatories/satellite/compton/snr.html
  16. https://astrobiology.com/2025/04/the-interstellar-medium.html
  17. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vela_Supernova_Remnant
  18. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/science/science-behind-the-discoveries/hubble-pulsars/
  19. https://youtu.be/jv2rEa7iqhA
  20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/random_apod.html
  21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260601.html
  22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  25. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  26. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  27. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  28. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  29. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  30. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=260602
  31. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260603.html
  32. https://www.mtu.edu/physics/department/faculty/nemiroff/
  33. https://www.mtu.edu/physics/
  34. https://inspirehep.net/authors/1073087
  35. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  36. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  37. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  38. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  39. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/
  40. https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/astrophysics/
  41. https://www.nasa.gov/
  42. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  43. https://science.nasa.gov/learn/about-science-activation/
  44. http://www.mtu.edu/