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Vela Supernova Remnant

Coordinates: Sky map 08h 35m 20.66s, −45° 10′ 35.2″
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Vela Supernova Remnant
Diffuse nebula
supernova remnant
Observation data: J2000.0 epoch
Right ascension08h 35m 20.66s
Declination−45° 10′ 35.2″
Distance815±98[1] ly   (250±30 pc)
Apparent magnitude (V)12
Apparent dimensions (V)8 degrees (approx.)
ConstellationVela
DesignationsVela XYZ, Gum 16, SNR G263.9-03.3, 1E 0840.0-4430, RE J083854-430902
See also: Lists of nebulae

The Vela supernova remnant is a supernova remnant in the southern constellation Vela. Its source Type II supernova exploded approximately 11,000-12,300 years ago (and was about 800 light years away). The association of the Vela supernova remnant with the Vela pulsar, made by astronomers at the University of Sydney in 1968,[2] was direct observational proof that supernovae form neutron stars.

The Vela supernova remnant includes NGC 2736. It also overlaps the Puppis Supernova Remnant, which is four times more distant. Both the Puppis and Vela remnants are among the largest and brightest features in the X-ray sky.

The Vela supernova remnant (SNR) is one of the closest known to us. The Geminga pulsar is closer (and also resulted from a supernova), and in 1998 another near-Earth supernova remnant was discovered, RX J0852.0-4622, which from our point of view appears to be contained in the southeastern part of the Vela remnant. One estimate of its distance puts it only 200 parsecs away (about 650 ly), closer than the Vela remnant, and, surprisingly, it seems to have exploded much more recently (in the last thousand years or so) because it is still radiating gamma rays from the decay of titanium-44. This remnant was not seen earlier because in most wavelengths it is lost in the image of the Vela remnant.

  • Position of Vela in the Milky Way
    Position of Vela in the Milky Way

See also

References

  1. ^ Cha, Alexandra N.; Sembach, Kenneth R.; Danks, Anthony C. (1999). "The Distance to the Vela Supernova Remnant". The Astrophysical Journal Letters. 515: L25–L28. arXiv:astro-ph/9902230. Bibcode:1999ApJ...515L..25C. doi:10.1086/311968.
  2. ^ Large, M. I.; Vaughan, A. E.; Mills, B. Y. (1968). "A Pulsar Supernova Association?". Nature. 20 (5165): 340. Bibcode:1968Natur.220..340L. doi:10.1038/220340a0.


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