The Garlic Nebula (cataloged as CTB 1, LBN 576, or Abell 85) originated as a massive stellar explosion. Located roughly 10,000 light-years away in the constellation Cassiopeia, it is a expanding galactic supernova remnant (SNR).

Key Stages of Its Origin

1. Massive Star PrecursorThe origin traces back to a massive progenitor star estimated at 13 to 15 times the mass of our Sun. As the star ran out of nuclear fuel in its core, it could no longer produce the outward radiation pressure needed to support its own immense gravitational weight.
   Core-Collapse Supernova Event Approximately 10,000 to 16,000 years ago, the star collapsed in a core-collapse supernova. The explosion blasted the star's outer layers into interstellar space at speeds of thousands of kilometers per second, dispersing gas enriched with heavy elements like oxygen, neon, and iron.