CTB 1, also known as Abell 85, is a faint supernova remnant located in the constellation Cassiopeia, approximately 10,000 light-years from Earth. This ancient remnant, sometimes called the “Popped Balloon” nebula due to its delicate, broken circular shape, spans about 100 light-years in diameter and is the result of a massive star that exploded thousands of years ago. The shockwaves from this supernova explosion have left behind intricate filaments of gas and dust, which emit faint, ghostly light as they continue to expand into surrounding space. CTB 1’s structure includes faint loops and wisps of ionized gas visible primarily in the hydrogen-alpha spectrum, revealing the last remnants of the star’s outer layers. Studying CTB 1 provides astronomers with insights into the life cycles of massive stars and the impact of supernova explosions on interstellar space, as the dispersed materials contribute to the formation of future stars and planets. Written by ChatGPT.