Cygnus Loop

The Cygnus Loop is a large supernova remnant in the constellation Cygnus, formed by a stellar explosion roughly 10,000–20,000 years ago.

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Supernova remnant: An expanding cloud of gas and dust left by a supernova, often shaped by shock waves and magnetic fields. The Cygnus Loop is a nearby, extended example of this class of object.
Veil Nebula: The bright optical filaments of the Cygnus Loop’s expanding supernova shell. This name commonly designates the Loop’s most conspicuous visible arcs.
Core-collapse supernova: A stellar explosion triggered when a massive star’s core collapses under gravity. This is a leading explanation for the explosion that created the Cygnus Loop.
Cosmic-ray acceleration: The energizing of charged particles to high speeds by astrophysical processes. The Loop’s shocks help test how supernova remnants accelerate energetic particles.
Crab Nebula: A supernova remnant powered by a rapidly rotating neutron star, observed after a supernova recorded in 1054. Unlike the Cygnus Loop’s broad shell, the Crab is a pulsar-powered nebula.
Blast wave: A strong propagating disturbance that drives matter outward from an energetic explosion. The Loop’s visible filaments mark shock fronts advancing through interstellar material.
Witch's Broom Nebula: A bright filamentary region on the western edge of the Veil Nebula. Its curved strands show how a shock front lights up denser gas.
Stellar evolution: The changes in a star’s structure and properties over its lifetime. The remnant’s origin depends on the final stages of its progenitor star.
Synchrotron radiation: Radiation emitted by charged particles spiraling through magnetic fields at relativistic speeds. Radio emission from remnants can trace energetic electrons and magnetic fields.
Cassiopeia A: A young, bright supernova remnant in the constellation Cassiopeia. Its compact, energetic structure contrasts with the Cygnus Loop’s older, wider shell.