Starry Night Photography - Gum Nebula (original) (raw)

Gum Nebula

largest known nebula in terms of angular diameter as seen from Earth, extending over at least 40 degrees in the southern constellations Puppis and Vela. A complex of diffuse, glowing gas too faint to be seen with the unaided eye, it was discovered by the Australian-born astrophysicist Colin S. Gum, who published his findings in 1955. The Gum Nebula lies roughly 1,000 light-years from the Earth and may be the remnant of an ancient supernova--i.e., violently exploding star.

Also see a smaller region of this nebula and nebulosity around Gamma Velorum in the constellation Vela is the brightest Wolf-Rayetstar in the sky.