The image that looks straight from a fiction movie depicts a part of a supernova blast wave in the constellation Cygnus.

  • This supernova explosion blasted apart a dying star about 20 times more massive than our Sun
  • A supernova is the explosion of a star, the largest explosion in space

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has shared a stunning image of a part of a supernova blast wave taken by the space agency’s versatile Hubble space telescope. The image appears as a delicate and light veil draped across the sky, but it showcases a small section of the Cygnus supernova blast wave, which is located around 2,400 light-years away.

For those unaware, a supernova is the explosion of a star – the largest explosion in space. NASA scientists use different types of high-end telescopes to look for supernovas, and this mesmerising image is a result of one such study. 

While sharing the image on Twitter, NASA noted, “Appearing like a delicate veil draped across the sky, this @NASAHubble. The image reminds us of the power of imagination. What does it look like to you?⁣ In reality, it’s part of a supernova blast wave in the constellation Cygnus, ~2,400 light-years away,”

“The name of the supernova remnant comes from its position in the northern constellation of Cygnus (the Swan), where it covers an area 36 times larger than the full Moon.”

“The original supernova explosion blasted apart a dying star about 20 times more massive than our Sun between 10,000 and 20,000 years ago. Since then, the remnant has expanded 60 light-years from its centre. The shockwave marks the outer edge of the supernova remnant and continues to expand at around 220 miles per second,” explains NASA in a blog post. 

NASA scientists had recently spotted a giant gaseous halo around the Andromeda galaxy – nearest galaxy to our Milky Way with the help of Hubble telescope, and now it has helped them capture an image of a supernova blast. 

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