The Guitar Nebula was formed as a rapidly moving neutron star moved through interstellar gas. The neutron star is moving at a speed of 1000 miles per second! As it moves through space the neutron star leaves behind a "wake" in the interstellar medium, which from our vantage point just happens to look like a guitar.

The Guitar Nebula is about 6.5 light years away, in the constellation of Cepheus. The size of the nebula and the motion of the neutron star suggest that the nebula is only about 300 years old.

The neutron star formed from a supernova explosion which gave the star its high velocity.