Astronomy Picture of the Day [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2026 June 2 [2]The starfield is filled with many red nebulas, areas of dark dust, and light blue filaments. Please see the explanation for more detailed information. The Vela Supernova Remnant Image Credit & Copyright: [3]José Mtanous Explanation: The explosion is over, but the consequences continue. About twelve thousand years ago, a relatively normal star in the constellation [4]Vela suddenly [5]exploded, creating a strange point of light briefly visible to humans living near the beginning of [6]recorded history. The outer layers of the star crashed into the [7]interstellar medium, driving a [8]shock wave that is still visible today. The [9]featured image, taken piecemeal over 60 hours from the [10]Khomas Region of [11]Namibia, captures some of that filamentary and gigantic shock in [12]visible light, with details highlighted by [13]hydrogen (red) and [14]oxygen (blue) emissions. As gas flies away from the detonated star, it [15]decays and reacts with the [16]interstellar medium, producing light in many different colors and energy bands. Remaining at the center of the [17]Vela Supernova Remnant is a [18]pulsar, a star as dense as nuclear matter that [19]spins around more than ten times in a single second. Explore the Universe: [20]Random APOD Generator Tomorrow's picture: open space __________________________________________________________________ [21]< | [22]Archive | [23]Submissions | [24]Index | [25]Search | [26]Calendar | [27]RSS | [28]Education | [29]About APOD | [30]Discuss | [31]> __________________________________________________________________ Authors & editors: [32]Robert Nemiroff ([33]MTU) & [34]Jerry Bonnell ([35]UMCP) NASA Official: Amber Straughn [36]Specific rights apply. [37]NASA Web Privacy, [38]Accessibility, [39]Notices; A service of: [40]ASD at [41]NASA / [42]GSFC, [43]NASA Science Activation & [44]Michigan Tech. U. References 1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html 2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2606/Vela_Mtanous_2900.jpg 3. https://www.instagram.com/jmtanous/ 4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vela_(constellation) 5. https://youtu.be/wymMn-SmALY 6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cave_painting 7. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap130924.html 8. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap210414.html 9. https://app.astrobin.com/u/jmtanous?i=qkfmgy 10. https://youtu.be/lw5zT530rb4 11. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namibia 12. https://science.nasa.gov/ems/09_visiblelight/ 13. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen-alpha 14. https://science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-oxygen-magnetic-field-linked/ 15. https://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/observatories/satellite/compton/snr.html 16. https://astrobiology.com/2025/04/the-interstellar-medium.html 17. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vela_Supernova_Remnant 18. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/science/science-behind-the-discoveries/hubble-pulsars/ 19. https://youtu.be/jv2rEa7iqhA 20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/random_apod.html 21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260601.html 22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html 23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html 24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html 25. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search 26. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html 27. https://apod.com/feed.rss 28. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html 29. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html 30. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=260602 31. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260603.html 32. https://www.mtu.edu/physics/department/faculty/nemiroff/ 33. https://www.mtu.edu/physics/ 34. https://inspirehep.net/authors/1073087 35. http://www.astro.umd.edu/ 36. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply 37. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html 38. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/ 39. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/ 40. https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/astrophysics/ 41. https://www.nasa.gov/ 42. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/ 43. https://science.nasa.gov/learn/about-science-activation/ 44. http://www.mtu.edu/