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. 2024 April 3 [2]A nebula is shown that appears like a firework. Radial filaments connect a glowing halo to a star in the center that appears as a blue dot. Please see the explanation for more detailed information. Unusual Nebula Pa 30 Image Credit: [3]NASA, [4]ESA, [5]USAF, [6]NSF; Processing: [7]G. Ferrand ([8]U. Manitoba), [9]J. English ([10]U. Manitoba), [11]R. A. Fesen ([12]Dartmouth), C. Treyturik (U. Manitoba); Text: G. Ferrand & J. English Explanation: What created this unusual celestial firework? The nebula, dubbed [13]Pa 30, appears in the same sky direction now as a bright "[14]guest star" did in the [15]year 1181. Although Pa 30's filaments look similar to that created by a nova (for example [16]GK Per), and a planetary nebula (for example [17]NGC 6751), some astronomers [18]now propose that it was created by a rare type of [19]supernova: a thermonuclear Type Iax, and so is (also) named [20]SN 1181. In [21]this model, the supernova was not the result of the detonation of a single star, but rather a blast that occurred when two [22]white dwarf stars spiraled together and merged. The blue dot in the center is hypothesized to be a [23]zombie star, the remnant white dwarf that [24]somehow survived this [25]supernova-level explosion. The [26]featured image combines images and data obtained with [27]infrared (WISE), [28]visible ([29]MDM, [30]Pan-STARRS), and [31]X-ray ([32]Chandra, [33]XMM) telescopes. Future observations and analyses may [34]tell us more. NASA Coverage: [35]Total Solar Eclipse of 2024 April 8 Tomorrow's picture: the comet at night __________________________________________________________________ [36]< | [37]Archive | [38]Submissions | [39]Index | [40]Search | [41]Calendar | [42]RSS | [43]Education | [44]About APOD | [45]Discuss | [46]> __________________________________________________________________ Authors & editors: [47]Robert Nemiroff ([48]MTU) & [49]Jerry Bonnell ([50]UMCP) NASA Official: Amber Straughn [51]Specific rights apply. [52]NASA Web Privacy, [53]Accessibility, [54]Notices; A service of: [55]ASD at [56]NASA / [57]GSFC, [58]NASA Science Activation & [59]Michigan Tech. U. 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