Supernovae are dramatic explosions that take place during the final stages of the death of a supermassive star. Most stages of astronomical evolution happen over timescales far longer than a human lifetime, and even far longer than humanity's entire history. Supernova explosions are spectacular exceptions to that rule as they happen in an instant. The vast wreath of glowing gas seen in this image was ejected after a massive star exploded around 11,000 years ago in the constellation Vela the Sails. It is what we now call the Vela supernova remnant (SNR) and it takes up a large area in space. What we see here is a 2 panel mosaic spanning around 8 degrees in the sky. Imaged on my Takahashi E160 in DeepSkyChile.