APOD: Along the Western Veil

This is a picture of the Veil Nebula. This Nebula is made up of filaments of shocked gas that has began to glow. This is also known to be the remnants of a supernova, and it most likely appeared to Earth's eyes about 5,000 years ago. The red in the picture is atomic hydrogen, and the blue is atomic oxygen. The span of ythis nebula is about 6 times the diameter of the moon. It is located about 1,500 light years away, and is actually two separate nebulae that have collided (The Witch's Broom and Pickering's Triangle). This image is amazing due to the dynamic and contrast of colors seen, and it amazes me that such beauty can be seen in space.