What type of cosmic event produced the W49B nebula?

The W49B nebula is a remnant of a supernova explosion, which is a powerful and luminous event marking the end of a massive star's life. When a massive star exhausts its nuclear fuel, it can no longer support itself against gravitational collapse. The core contracts, and the outer layers are expelled violently into space, creating a supernova.

W49B specifically is linked to a type of supernova called a core-collapse supernova, which occurs in stars that have at least eight times the mass of the Sun. The energy released during such an explosion is incredibly high, leading to the creation of a nebula as the expelled material interacts with the surrounding interstellar medium. The nebula contains elements synthesized during the star's life and during the supernova event itself, contributing to the cosmic recycling process that enriches the galaxy with heavier elements essential for forming new stars and planets.

This phenomenon distinguishes the W49B nebula from other options, such as planetary formation, stellar collisions, and black hole formation, which do not result in the formation of a supernova remnant like W49B.