Pickering's Triangle and the Witch's Broom Nebulae in the Constellation Cygnus

 

Pickering's Triangle and the Witch's Broom Nebulae.
Seestar S30 in EQ mode. 60x60sec subs with LP filter.
Image Credit: Pip Stakkert Jodrell Plank Observatory, August 2025.

Stars removed from the image to better show the nebulae.
Pickering's Triangle lower left, Witch's Broom top right.
Image Credit: Pip Stakkert. JPO.

"Pickering's Triangle and the Witch's Broom are constituent parts of the 'Veil Nebula' aka the 'Cygnus Loop'. Together, the parts represent the aftermath of a  supernova, which occurred between 5,000 and 10,000 thousand years ago in the constellation Cygnus the Swan. The very apparent bright star appearing to ride on the back of the Witch's Broom (Western Veil) Nebula is 52 Cygni, this star is a foreground star and is much nearer to us than the Veil Nebula" - Joel Cairo CEO of the Jodrell Plank Observatory.

"So what happened to the progenitor star?

A massive star (about 12–15× the Sun’s mass) in Cygnus ran out of nuclear fuel and underwent a core-collapse supernova. Its expanding shock front is what we see today as the Cygnus Loop/Veil Nebula, ~725 ± 15 pc (~2,370 ly) away. Despite many searches, no compact remnant (neutron star/pulsar) has been securely identified in the remnant—there’s only an unconfirmed pulsar-wind-nebula candidate in the southern 'blowout'. 

So where might be the original explosion point (“center”) ?

Astronomers often use the Loop’s geometric center as the supernova site. A recent wide-field study places that center at RA 20ʰ 50ᵐ 51ˢ, Dec +30° 34′ 06″ (J2000)—roughly midway between the Western Veil (NGC 6960) and Eastern Veil (NGC 6992/6995)". - Kurt Thrust current Director of the Jodrell Plank Observatory.

" Many of our readers have emailed me at the JPO enquiring as to the health of our neighbour, Mr Schrodinger's  cat. 

'Comet the cat' has been absent from the grounds of the JPO for some time, but we are very pleased to say, that during the recent warm spell of weather, here in Lowestoft,- she has taken up residence in a sunny spot just under the LVST antenna. Very much like the JPO's sponsors, Anita and George Roberts, Comet is getting on a bit, but she and her tail are still very much an integral part of the Observatory Team". - Karl Segin outreach coordinator at the JPO.

A fine 'Astro - Puss' indeed.