NGC6960 is the western part of the Veil Nebula, a supernova remnant in Cygnus. The whole Veil is formed also from the other nebulas NGC6992-5, NGC6979, NGC6974, and is a loop with a diameter of more than 3°. The part imaged is near the star 52 Cygni, and measure 70'x6'. The whole Veil is in expansion at a speed of 45km/sec., and on widefield images can be noticed that the number of stars is greater into the loop, and lower out of the loop. This can be easily explained, because the energy wave generated by the supernova explosion has compressed the dusts and gases over its passage, aiding the formation of new stars.

Camera : Starlight Xpress SXV-H9 with Astronomik 13nm Ha filter


Telescope : Takahashi FS-102 at F/6 with focal reducer on a GM2000-FS2


Guiding : ST4 on a Vixen 80/910mm.


Exposure : 6x600sec. unbinned


Processing : MaxIm (align, combine, stretching) - Photoshop (final enhancing)


Location : Piano di Nivolet (Val d'Aosta) - 2600mt. height


Date : July 30, 2003

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