This is a CCD image of the Veil Nebula. The Veil Nebula is cataloged as more than one object in the NGC catalog. The portion of the nebula near the bottom left of this image is known as the Eastern Veil Nebula and has the designation NGC 6992. The portion of the Veil Nebula near the top of this image by the bright star 52 Cygni has the designation NGC 6960. The portion of the nebula in between these two objects has the designation NGC 6979. The Veil Nebula is the remnant of a supernova explosion 30,000 to 40,000 years ago. The expanding gas glows as it collides with interstellar dust at the outer reaches of the expanding shock front, and this produces the delicate filaments of the nebula which are visible in this image. This nebula is sometimes called the Cirrus Nebula. The Veil Nebula was discovered visually by William Herschel in 1784 using an 18-inch reflecting telescope.
This is an RGB composite CCD image taken with a Takahashi Epsilon 180ED telescope using an STL-11000M CCD. This image was taken from my backyard in Scottsdale, Arizona.
NGC 6992 & NGC 6990
Constellation: Cygnus
RA: 20h 51m 35s Dec: +30d 55' 26" (J2000)
May 28, 29, 30 & 31, 2009
Image by Sid Leach
Scottsdale, Arizona
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