Paweł Radomski: The Veil of the Fallen Star

Paweł Radomski: The Veil of the Fallen Star (CTB1 Supernova Remnant) - A Ghost in the Machine

Sometimes the best images aren't captured—they're discovered.

For a full year, the raw data for this image sat on Paweł Radomski's hard drive, untouched. He was convinced he didn't have enough. He was waiting for a perfect weather window that never came. Finally, giving up on perfection, he started processing what he had.

And there it was. The Veil of the Fallen Star.

This is CTB1, a supernova remnant so faint and difficult to capture that Radomski had to travel far from Warsaw's light pollution just to attempt it. It required two different cameras, two different locations, and a year of accidental aging to bring this cosmic ghost to life.

The Aftermath of a Stellar Explosion

9,800 light-years away in Cassiopeia, a massive star ended its life not with a whimper, but with a cataclysmic bang. What remains is a bubble-shaped shell of gas expanding into the interstellar medium—a cosmic tombstone roughly 100 light-years across.

But this tombstone has a runaway tenant. The explosion that created CTB1 was so asymmetric that it literally kicked the star's core—now a pulsar named PSR J0002+6216—out of the nebula. That pulsar is currently traveling through space at over 1,000 kilometers per second (over 2 million miles per hour), spinning 8.7 times every second. It is one of the fastest-moving stars ever discovered, a "cannonball pulsar" fleeing the scene of its own birth.

The remnant itself is a study in delicate violence. The expanding shockwave heats the surrounding gas, causing it to glow faintly in optical and radio wavelengths. It is a young remnant—only a few thousand years old—meaning we are witnessing the relatively fresh aftermath of a stellar death.

Two Cameras, Two Locations, One Masterpiece

This image is a technical Frankenstein in the best possible way. The hydrogen data (the red structure) was collected with one camera setup. The oxygen data (the faint blue-green wisps) was so incredibly scarce that Radomski had to use a more sensitive camera from a much darker location just to detect it.

Merging data from different sites and sensors is notoriously difficult, yet the result is seamless. The rich, textured red of the hydrogen shell contrasts beautifully with the subtle, ghostly blue of the oxygen shock front. It creates a sense of depth and fragility—a veil floating in the deep black of Cassiopeia.

Technical details:

• Scope: TS Newton 8" f/5 Carbon
• Mount: Sky Watcher AZ-EQ6
• Camera: ZWO ASI 2600MM-Camera
• Filters: Antlia Ha 3nm / OIII 3nm / RGB
• Processing: PixInsight

Exposure Times:

• Ha:300x300sec
• OIII: 322x300sec
• RGB: 10x60sec each channel
• TOTAL: 52h 20'
  

Choose Your Quality Level

Fine Art Print – The Museum Standard

This is an image defined by its faintness. The subtle gradients of the oxygen shell and the intricate filaments of the hydrogen remnant require the absolute best reproduction technology to be appreciated. Our Fine Art prints use museum-grade archival paper and inks to ensure every wisp of this 9,800-year-old explosion is visible. Rated for 200+ years, this print captures the ghost exactly as Radomski finally saw it on his screen. Ideal for collectors who appreciate the technical mastery behind deep-sky imaging.

Poster – Accessible Impact

Bring the drama of a supernova remnant to your wall at an accessible price. Our poster version boosts the contrast to make the "Medulla Nebula" (as it's sometimes called) pop against the starfield. Perfect for offices, studios, or any space that needs a reminder of the universe's explosive history.

Who Is This Print For?

• The Technical Purist – You love the story behind the image: the mixed data, the different cameras, the "lost" year on the hard drive. It’s a testament to processing skill.
• The Physics Enthusiast – You are fascinated by neutron stars, pulsars, and supernova physics. You know that somewhere outside this frame, a pulsar is speeding away at 1,000 km/s.
• The Hunter of the Faint – You appreciate objects that are difficult. M42 is easy. CTB1 is a trophy for those who put in the work.
• The Storyteller – You love telling guests that this image sat forgotten for a year before being rediscovered—a perfect parallel to the remnant itself, lingering in the dark until we learned how to see it.

Bring the Ghost Home

This is Paweł Radomski’s "accidental" masterpiece. This is the veil of a fallen star, captured through patience, travel, and a little bit of luck.