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The Rosette Nebula in Hydrog
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| Title |
The Rosette Nebula in Hydrogen, Oxygen, and Sulfur |
| Explanation |
The Rosette Nebula is a large emission nebula [ http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/billa/twn/types.html#emission ] located 3000 light-years away. The great abundance of hydrogen gas [ http://casswww.ucsd.edu/public/tutorial/Planck.html#atoms ] gives NGC 2237 [ http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/billa/twn/n2237x.html ] its red color in most photographs [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap980214.html ]. The wind [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap990208.html ] from the open cluster [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap980329.html ] of stars known as NGC 2244 has cleared a hole in the nebula's center. The above photograph [ http://www.noao.edu/image_gallery/html/im0557.html ], however, was taken in the light emitted by three elements of the gas ionized by the energetic central stars. Here green light originating from oxygen [ http://pearl1.lanl.gov/periodic/elements/8.html ] and blue light originating from sulfur [ http://pearl1.lanl.gov/periodic/elements/16.html ] supplements the red from hydrogen. Filaments of dark dust [ http://galileo.mpi-hd.mpg.de/ ] lace run through the nebula's gases. The origin of recently observed fast-moving molecular knots [ http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?bibcode=1998A%26A...334..264C ] in the Rosette Nebula remains under investigation. |
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M20: The Trifid Nebula
| Title |
M20: The Trifid Nebula |
| Explanation |
Unspeakable beauty and unimaginable bedlam can be found together in the Trifid Nebula [ http://www.seds.org/messier/m/m020.html ]. Also known as M20, this photogenic nebula [ http://www.noao.edu/image_gallery/html/im0587.html ] is visible with good binoculars towards the constellation [ http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/constellations/extra/constellations.html ] of Sagittarius [ http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/constellations/constellations/Sagittarius.html ]. The energetic processes of star formation [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap990502.html ] create not only the colors but the chaos. The red-glowing gas [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap980828.html ] results from high-energy starlight striking interstellar hydrogen [ http://pearl1.lanl.gov/periodic/elements/1.html ] gas. The dark dust [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap990509.html ] filaments [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap990607.html ] that lace M20 [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap970828.html ] were created in the atmospheres of cool giant stars [ http://www.astro.keele.ac.uk/workx/starlife/StarpageS_26M.html ] and in the debris [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap990803.html ] from supernovae [ http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/science/know_l1/supernovae.html ] explosions. Which bright young stars light up the blue reflection nebula [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/reflection_nebulae.html ] is still being investigated [ http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?bibcode=1986AJ.....92.1125L ]. The light from M20 [ http://www.aao.gov.au/local/www/dfm/aat069.html ] we see today left perhaps 3000 years ago, although the exact distance remains unknown. Light takes about 50 years to cross M20 [ http://www.seds.org/billa/twn/n6514x.html ]. |
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IC 4406: A Seemingly Square
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| Title |
IC 4406: A Seemingly Square Nebula |
| Explanation |
How can a round star make a square nebula? This conundrum came to light with the discovery of planetary nebulae [ http://zebu.uoregon.edu/~imamura/208/feb22/feb22.html ] like IC 4406. IC 4406 [ http://www.astro.psu.edu/users/rbc/IC4406.html ] is most probably cylindrical, with its square appearance the result of our vantage point in viewing the cylinder. Hot gas is known [ http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?bibcode=1991A%26A...251..560S ] to be flowing out the ends of the cylinder, while filaments of dark dust [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap990509.html ] and molecular gas [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap970430.html ] lace the bounding walls. The star primarily responsible for this interstellar sculpture [ http://oposite.stsci.edu/pubinfo/pr/97/pn/ ] can be found in the planetary nebula's center. In a few million years, the only thing left visible in IC 4406 [ http://www.iras.ucalgary.ca/cgi-bin/zhang/webpn?IC4406 ] will be a fading white dwarf star [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap971102.html ]. |
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The Lagoon Nebula in Gas, Du
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| Title |
The Lagoon Nebula in Gas, Dust, and Stars |
| Explanation |
Stars are battling gas and dust in the Lagoon Nebula but the photographers are winning. Also known as M8, this photogenic nebula [ http://astrosurf.com/afernandez/gallery/deepsky/m8/m8_lrgb_asa_70.htm ] is visible [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap011229.html ] even without binoculars towards the constellation [ http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/constellations/extra/constellations.html ] of Sagittarius [ http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/constellations/constellations/Sagittarius.html ]. The energetic processes of star formation [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap030816.html ] create not only the colors but the chaos [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap031228.html ]. The red-glowing gas [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/emission_nebulae.html ] results from high-energy starlight striking interstellar hydrogen [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen ] gas. The dark dust [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap030706.html ] filaments [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap010928.html ] that lace M8 [ http://www.seds.org/messier/m/m008.html ] were created in the atmospheres of cool giant stars [ http://www.astro.keele.ac.uk/workx/starlife/StarpageS_26M.html ] and in the debris [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap990803.html ] from supernovae [ http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/science/know_l1/supernovae.html ] explosions. The light from M8 [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search?m8 ] we see today left about 5,000 years ago [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3rd_millennium_BC ]. Light takes about 50 years to cross this section of M8 [ http://www.seds.org/billa/twn/n6523.html ]. |
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The Trifid Nebula in Stars a
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| Title |
The Trifid Nebula in Stars and Dust |
| Explanation |
Unspeakable beauty and unimaginable bedlam can be found together in the Trifid Nebula [ http://www.seds.org/messier/m/m020.html ]. Also known as M20, this photogenic nebula [ http://www.cosmotography.com/images/lrg_m20.html ] is visible [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap011229.html ] with good binoculars towards the constellation [ http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/constellations/extra/constellations.html ] of Sagittarius [ http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/constellations/constellations/Sagittarius.html ]. The energetic processes of star formation [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap030816.html ] create not only the colors but the chaos [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaos_%28physics%29 ]. The red-glowing gas [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap980828.html ] results from high-energy starlight striking interstellar hydrogen [ http://periodic.lanl.gov/elements/1.html ] gas. The dark dust [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap030706.html ] filaments [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap010928.html ] that lace M20 [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap970828.html ] were created in the atmospheres of cool giant stars [ http://www.astro.keele.ac.uk/workx/starlife/StarpageS_26M.html ] and in the debris [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap990803.html ] from supernovae [ http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/science/know_l1/supernovae.html ] explosions. Which bright young stars light up the blue reflection nebula [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/reflection_nebulae.html ] is still being investigated [ http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?bibcode=1986AJ.....92.1125L ]. The light from M20 [ http://www.noao.edu/image_gallery/html/im0587.html ] we see today left perhaps 3000 years ago, although the exact distance remains unknown. Light takes about 50 years to cross M20 [ http://www.seds.org/billa/twn/n6514x.html ]. |
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The Trifid Nebula from AAO
| Title |
The Trifid Nebula from AAO |
| Explanation |
Unspeakable beauty and unimaginable bedlam can be found together in the Trifid Nebula [ http://www.seds.org/messier/m/m020.html ]. Also known as M20, this photogenic nebula [ http://www.aao.gov.au/images/captions/aat012.html ] is visible [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap011229.html ] with good binoculars towards the constellation [ http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/constellations/extra/constellations.html ] of Sagittarius [ http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/constellations/constellations/Sagittarius.html ]. The energetic processes of star formation [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap020108.html ] create not only the colors but the chaos [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap011230.html ]. The red-glowing gas [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap980828.html ] results from high-energy starlight striking interstellar hydrogen [ http://pearl1.lanl.gov/periodic/elements/1.html ] gas. The dark dust [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap990509.html ] filaments [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap010928.html ] that lace M20 [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap970828.html ] were created in the atmospheres of cool giant stars [ http://www.astro.keele.ac.uk/workx/starlife/StarpageS_26M.html ] and in the debris [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap990803.html ] from supernovae [ http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/science/know_l1/supernovae.html ] explosions. Which bright young stars light up the blue reflection nebula [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/reflection_nebulae.html ] is still being investigated [ http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?bibcode=1986AJ.....92.1125L ]. The light from M20 [ http://www.noao.edu/image_gallery/html/im0587.html ] we see today left perhaps 3000 years ago, although the exact distance remains unknown. Light takes about 50 years to cross M20 [ http://www.seds.org/billa/twn/n6514x.html ]. |
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IC 4406: A Seemingly Square
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| Title |
IC 4406: A Seemingly Square Nebula |
| Explanation |
How can a round star make a square nebula? This conundrum comes to light when studying planetary nebulae [ http://zebu.uoregon.edu/~imamura/208/feb22/feb22.html ] like IC 4406. Evidence indicates that IC 4406 [ http://www.astro.psu.edu/users/rbc/IC4406.html ] is likely a hollow cylinder, with its square appearance the result of our vantage point in viewing the cylinder [ http://www.mathleague.com/help/geometry/3space.htm#cylinder ] from the side. Were IC 4406 [ http://heritage.stsci.edu/2002/14/table.html ] viewed from the top, it would likely look similar to the Ring Nebula [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap010729.html ]. This representative-color picture [ http://heritage.stsci.edu/2002/14/index.html ] is a composite [ http://heritage.stsci.edu/2002/14/supplemental.html ] made by combining images taken by the Hubble Space Telescope [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap010806.html ] last June and this January. Hot gas flows [ http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?bibcode=1991A%26A...251..560S ] out the ends of the cylinder, while filaments of dark dust [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap990509.html ] and molecular gas [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap970430.html ] lace the bounding walls. The star primarily responsible for this interstellar sculpture [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap000416.html ] can be found in the planetary nebula [ http://www.noao.edu/jacoby/pn_gallery.html ]'s center. In a few million years, the only thing left visible in IC 4406 [ http://www.iras.ucalgary.ca/cgi-bin/zhang/webpn?IC4406 ] will be a fading white dwarf star [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap000910.html ]. |
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In the Center of the Omega N
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| Title |
In the Center of the Omega Nebula |
| Explanation |
In the depths of the dark clouds [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap030202.html.html ] of dust [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap030706.html ] and molecular gas [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap970430.html ] known as the Omega Nebula [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap021210.html ], stars continue to form. The above image [ http://oposite.stsci.edu/pubinfo/PR/2002/11/pr-photos.html ] from the Hubble Space Telescope [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap010806.html ]'s Advanced Camera for Surveys [ http://acs.pha.jhu.edu/ ] shows exquisite detail in the famous star-forming region [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap000919.html ]. The dark dust filaments that lace the center of Omega Nebula [ http://www.seds.org/messier/m/m017.html ] were created in the atmospheres of cool giant stars [ http://www.historyoftheuniverse.com/starold.html ] and in the debris from supernova explosions [ http://chandra.harvard.edu/xray_sources/supernovas.html ]. The red and blue hues arise from glowing gas [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap020213.html ] heated by the radiation of massive nearby stars. The points of light are the young stars [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap031227.html ] themselves, some brighter than 100 Suns. Dark globules [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap030816.html ] mark even younger systems [ http://www.ing.iac.es/PR/science/stars.html ], clouds of gas and dust just now condensing to form stars [ http://www.ph.surrey.ac.uk/astrophysics/files/how_stars_form.html#starbirth ] and planets [ http://collections.ic.gc.ca/universe/planets_answers08.html ]. The Omega Nebula [ http://www.astr.ua.edu/gifimages/m17r.html ] lies about 5000 light years [ http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/questions/question19.html ] away toward the constellation [ http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/constellations/extra/constellations.html ] of Sagittarius [ http://www.astronomical.org/constellations/sgr.html ]. The region shown spans about 3000 times the diameter of our Solar System [ http://www.nineplanets.org/overview.html ]. |
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M20: The Trifid Nebula
| Title |
M20: The Trifid Nebula |
| Explanation |
Unspeakable beauty and unimaginable bedlam can be found together in the Trifid Nebula [ http://www.seds.org/messier/m/m020.html ]. Also known as M20, this photogenic nebula [ http://www.aao.gov.au/local/www/dfm/aat069.html ] is visible with good binoculars in the constellation of Sagittarius [ http://galileo.gmu.edu/constellation/SGR.html ]. The energetic processes of star formation [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap970119.html ] create not only the colors but the chaos. The red-glowing gas results from high-energy light striking interstellar hydrogen gas. The dark dust [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap980104.html ] filaments that lace M20 [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap951221.html ] were created [ http://www.pha.jhu.edu/~mseibert/paper/grain.html#dustc ] in the atmospheres of cool giant stars [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap970216.html ] and in the debris from supernovae explosions [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap970713.html ]. Which bright young star [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap971018.html ] lights up the blue reflection nebula [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/index/ReflectionNebulae.html ] is still being investigated. The light from M20 [ http://www.seds.org/billa/twn/n6514.html ] we see today left perhaps 3000 years ago. Light takes about 50 years to cross M20 [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap970828.html ]. |
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IC 4406: A Seemingly Square
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| Title |
IC 4406: A Seemingly Square Nebula |
| Explanation |
How can a round star make a square nebula? This conundrum came to light with the discovery of planetary nebulae [ http://zebu.uoregon.edu/~imamura/208/feb22/feb22.html ] like IC 4406. IC 4406 [ http://www.astro.psu.edu/users/rbc/IC4406.html ] is most probably cylindrical, with its square appearance the result of our vantage point in viewing the cylinder. Hot gas is known [ http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1991A%26A%2E%2E%2E251%2E%2E560S&db_key=AST&high=33613e8e5801093&nosetcookie=1 ] to be flowing out the ends of the cylinder, while filaments of dark dust [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap980104.html ] and molecular gas [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap970430.html ] lace the bounding walls. The star primarily responsible [ http://www.astro.washington.edu/jalex/PNN_paper/GW_paper2.html ] for this interstellar sculpture can be found in the nebula's center. In a few million years, the only thing left visible in IC 4406 [ http://www.iras.ucalgary.ca/cgi-bin/zhang/webpn?IC4406 ] will be a fading white dwarf star [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap971102.html ]. |
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The Trifid Nebula from CFHT
| Title |
The Trifid Nebula from CFHT |
| Explanation |
Unspeakable beauty and unimaginable bedlam can be found together in the Trifid Nebula [ http://www.seds.org/messier/m/m020.html ]. Also known as M20, this photogenic nebula [ http://www.cfht.hawaii.edu/HawaiianStarlight/AIOM/English/CFHT-Coelum-AIOM-Mar2002.html ] is visible [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap011229.html ] with good binoculars towards the constellation [ http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/constellations/extra/constellations.html ] of Sagittarius [ http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/constellations/constellations/Sagittarius.html ]. The energetic processes of star formation [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap030816.html ] create not only the colors but the chaos [ http://www.mathjmendl.org/chaos/#intro ]. The red-glowing gas [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap980828.html ] results from high-energy starlight striking interstellar hydrogen [ http://periodic.lanl.gov/elements/1.html ] gas. The dark dust [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap030706.html ] filaments [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap010928.html ] that lace M20 [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap970828.html ] were created in the atmospheres of cool giant stars [ http://www.astro.keele.ac.uk/workx/starlife/StarpageS_26M.html ] and in the debris [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap990803.html ] from supernovae [ http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/science/know_l1/supernovae.html ] explosions. Which bright young stars light up the blue reflection nebula [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/reflection_nebulae.html ] is still being investigated [ http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?bibcode=1986AJ.....92.1125L ]. The light from M20 [ http://www.noao.edu/image_gallery/html/im0587.html ] we see today left perhaps 3000 years ago, although the exact distance remains unknown. Light takes about 50 years to cross M20 [ http://www.seds.org/billa/twn/n6514x.html ]. |
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The Busy Center of the Lagoo
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| Title |
The Busy Center of the Lagoon Nebula |
| Explanation |
Stars are battling gas and dust in the Lagoon Nebula but the photographers are winning. Also known as M8, this photogenic nebula [ http://www.turbinelegend.net/ASTRO/6303E/nbM8/nbM81/nbm81.html ] is visible [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap011229.html ] even without binoculars towards the constellation [ http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/constellations/extra/constellations.html ] of Sagittarius [ http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/constellations/constellations/Sagittarius.html ]. The energetic processes of star formation [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap030816.html ] create not only the colors but the chaos [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap031228.html ]. The red-glowing gas [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/emission_nebulae.html ] results from high-energy starlight striking interstellar hydrogen [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen ] gas. The dark dust [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap030706.html ] filaments [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap010928.html ] that lace M8 [ http://www.seds.org/messier/m/m008.html ] were created in the atmospheres of cool giant stars [ http://www.astro.keele.ac.uk/workx/starlife/StarpageS_26M.html ] and in the debris [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap990803.html ] from supernovae [ http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/science/know_l1/supernovae.html ] explosions. This spectacular portion of the Lagoon Nebula [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap021006.html ] was created in scientifically-assigned colors from light emitted in very specific colors by hydrogen [ http://periodic.lanl.gov/elements/1.html ], silicon [ http://periodic.lanl.gov/elements/14.html ], and oxygen [ http://periodic.lanl.gov/elements/8.html ]. The light from M8 [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search?m8 ] we see today left about 5000 years ago. Light takes about 50 years to cross this section of M8 [ http://www.seds.org/billa/twn/n6523.html ]. |
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