"Dark Energy Camera Captures Record-Breaking Image of Vela Supernova Remnant's Scattered Remains"

The Dark Energy Camera (DECam) has captured a record-breaking 1.3-gigapixel image of the Vela supernova remnant, showcasing the scattered remains of a star that exploded 11,000 years ago. This billowing mass of dust and gas spans 100 light-years and offers crucial insight into the late stages of such remnants' development. The image also reveals a neutron star, known as the Vela pulsar, at the remnant's core, which is spinning at a rate of 11 rotations per second and creating a pulsar wind nebula. The Vela supernova remnant, located in the Vela constellation, provides valuable information about the dispersal of material into the interstellar medium and the formation of heavy elements.