Description:
NGC 2736, also known as the Pencil Nebula, is a fascinating object located in the southern constellation of Vela, approximately 800 light-years away from Earth.
It is a part of the larger Vela Supernova Remnant, which was formed by a massive stellar explosion that occurred around 11,000 years ago.
The Pencil Nebula is a type of nebula called a filamentary or linear nebula, it is about 5 light-years long, but its width is only about 0.3 light-years. The Pencil Nebula is primarily composed of ionised oxygen gas but there are also a fair amount of hydrogen (Red) and sulphur (purple) present.
The origin of the Pencil Nebula is not entirely clear. Some astronomers believe it was formed by a shock wave from the supernova explosion that created the Vela Supernova Remnant, while others suggest that it was formed by a separate, more recent supernova.
