|
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The Rosette Nebula in Hydrog
…
| 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
…
| 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
…
| 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
…
| 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
…
| 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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NGC 4565: Galaxy on the Edge
| Title |
NGC 4565: Galaxy on the Edge |
| Explanation |
Magnificent spiral galaxy NGC 4565 [ http://www.seds.org/messier/xtra/ngc/n4565.html ] is viewed edge-on [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap010510.html ] from planet Earth. Also known as the Needle Galaxy [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap990617.html ] for its narrow profile, bright NGC 4565 is a stop on many springtime telescopic tours of the northern sky as it lies in the faint but well-groomed constellation Coma Berenices [ http://www.dibonsmith.com/com_con.htm ]. This sharp color image [ http://www.noao.edu/outreach/aop/observers/n4565.html ] reveals the galaxy's bulging central core dominated by light from a population of older, yellowish stars. The core is dramatically cut by obscuring dust lanes which lace NGC 4565's thin galactic plane. A large island universe [ http://nedwww.ipac.caltech.edu/level5/March02/ Gordon/Gordon2.html ] similar to our own Milky Way Galaxy [ http://cassfos02.ucsd.edu/public/tutorial/MW.html ], NGC 4565 is only about 30 million light-years distant, but over 100,000 light-years in diameter. In fact, some consider NGC 4565 to be a prominent celestial masterpiece Messier missed [ http://www.seds.org/pub/info/newsletters/ WASP/wasp_mmm.html#8 ]. |
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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 ]. |
|
IC 4406: A Seemingly Square
…
| 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 ]. |
|
Close-Up of the Lagoon
| Title |
Close-Up of the Lagoon |
| 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.cfht.hawaii.edu/HawaiianStarlight/AIOM/English/CFHT-Coelum-AIOM-Jul2004.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/ap020108.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://pearl1.lanl.gov/periodic/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 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 ] taken by the CFHT [ http://www.cfht.hawaii.edu/ ] was created from light emitted by hydrogen (shown in red) and light emitted by oxygen [ http://pearl1.lanl.gov/periodic/elements/8.html ] (shown in green). 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 ]. |
|
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 ]. |
|
NGC 4565: Galaxy on the Edge
| Title |
NGC 4565: Galaxy on the Edge |
| Explanation |
Magnificent spiral galaxy NGC 4565 [ http://www.seds.org/messier/xtra/ngc/n4565.html ] is viewed edge-on [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap010510.html ] from planet Earth. Also known as the Needle Galaxy [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap990617.html ] for its narrow profile, bright NGC 4565 is a stop on many telescopic tours of the northern sky as it lies in the faint but well-groomed constellation Coma Berenices [ http://www.dibonsmith.com/com_con.htm ]. This sharp color image [ http://www.robgendlerastropics.com/4565page.html ] reveals the galaxy's bulging central core dominated by light from a population of older, yellowish stars. The core is dramatically cut by obscuring dust lanes which lace NGC 4565's thin galactic plane [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap020703.html ]. A large island universe [ http://nedwww.ipac.caltech.edu/level5/March02/ Gordon/Gordon2.html ] similar to our own Milky Way Galaxy [ http://cassfos02.ucsd.edu/public/tutorial/MW.html ], NGC 4565 is only about 30 million light-years [ http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/cosmic_distance.html ] distant, but over 100,000 light-years in diameter. In fact, some consider NGC 4565 to be a prominent celestial masterpiece Messier missed [ http://www.seds.org/pub/info/newsletters/ WASP/wasp_mmm.html#8 ]. |
|
The Busy Center of the Lagoo
…
| 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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Swirls of Lace
PIA02648
Sol (our sun)
Multi-angle Imaging SpectroR
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| Title |
Swirls of Lace |
| Original Caption Released with Image |
These MISR nadir-camera images from April 23, 2000 (Terra orbit 1855) and May 9, 2000 (Terra orbit 2088) show cloud swirls, like delicate lace, forming patterns known as von Karman vortex streets. The turbulent atmospheric eddies form in the wake of an obstacle, in this instance the 1050-meter-high summit on the island of Socorro, Mexico. The surrounding clouds make the vortex patterns visible. To the northeast, much subtler disturbances are associated with the tiny Isla San Benedicto. Both islands are part of a group known as the Revillagigedo Archipelago, and are located about 400 kilometers equatorward of the southern tip of Baja California. Each of these images is approximately 180 kilometers wide and 350 kilometers long. The von Karman vortices are named for aerodynamicist Theodore von Karman, one of the founders of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. MISR was built and is managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA, for NASA's Office of Earth Science, Washington, DC. The Terra satellite is managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD. JPL is a division of the California Institute of Technology. |
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