Vela Mosaic

A two pane mosaic of RCW 32 (Widefield) and NGC 2659 (Vela Supernova Remnant).
NGC 2659 is the expanding debris cloud from the death explosion of a massive star around 800 light years away in th constellation of Vela. In addition to the shock wave filaments of glowing gas, the explosion left behind an incredibly dense, rotating stellar core, the Vela Pulsar.
RCW 32, also known as GUM 15, is about 3,000 light-years away in the constellation of Vela. It is shaped by aggressive winds flowing from the stars within and around it. The bright star near the centre of the nebula is HD 74804 which is responsible for ionising the gas. The various combinations of emission, reflection and dark nebulae make the nebula resemble a larger and fainter version of the better known Trifid Nebula.