What fuels this intriguing nebula? Situated in the direction of the Cassiopeia constellation, CTB-1 is the expanding shell of gas that remains from a colossal star explosion that occurred approximately 10,000 years ago.
This star likely reached its explosive fate when it exhausted the elements in its core, which could no longer maintain stabilizing pressure through nuclear fusion. Thus, the supernova remnant, now known as the Medulla Nebula due to its brain-like structure, continues to emit visible light as a result of the heat generated by its interaction with the surrounding interstellar gas.
The X-ray Glow Mystery
The reason behind the nebula's X-ray glow remains an enigma. One theory suggests that a high-energy pulsar was simultaneously formed during the explosion, propelling the nebula with an outward-moving, powerful wind. Supporting this notion, recent discoveries have identified a pulsar through radio wave emissions, which appears to have been ejected by the supernova explosion at a velocity exceeding /1,000 kilometers per second.
Capturing the Faint Medulla Nebula
Although the Medulla Nebula spans an area comparable to a full moon, its faintness necessitated several hours of exposure time using a telescope located in Seven Persons, Alberta, Canada to produce this striking image.
Image Credit & Copyright: Kimberly Sibbald
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