Images of V458 Vul

The nova V458 Vul exploded in early August 2007. Images obtained serendipitously shortly before the explosion showed that the exploding star was surrounded by a nebula. Later investigations showed that it was a planetary nebula, formed in an earlier phase of the star's evolution.

A paper about the nebula was published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters on 20 November 2008 (link).

The nebula surrounding Nova V458 Vul, imaged before its central star erupted

Nova Vul in colourThe field was observed during the IPHAS survey, before the nova erupted. This image was created by combining the IPHAS images taken in r', i' and Hα filters.

Animation: changes in the nebula as a result of the nova explosion

animationThis animation of four images shows the changes in the nebula as a result of the nova explosion. They were taken in June 2007, August 2007, May 2008 and September 2008

Image: changes in the nebula as a result of the nova explosion

Changes between May and September 2008Images taken in May 2008 and September 2008 show the dramatic changes occurring in the nebula as a result of the central star's explosion