Astronomy Picture of the Day -- NGC 7023: The Iris Nebula

NASA ^ | Friday, May 06, 2016 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

Explanation: These cosmic clouds have blossomed 1,300 light-years away, in the fertile starfields of the constellation Cepheus. Called the Iris Nebula, NGC 7023 is not the only nebula to evoke the imagery of flowers, though. Still, this deep telescopic image shows off the Iris Nebula's range of colors and symmetries, embedded in surrounding fields of interstellar dust. Within the Iris itself, dusty nebular material surrounds a hot, young star. The dominant color of the brighter reflection nebula is blue, characteristic of dust grains reflecting starlight. Central filaments of the reflection nebula glow with a faint reddish photoluminesence as some dust grains effectively convert the star's invisible ultraviolet radiation to visible red light. Infrared observations indicate that this nebula contains complex carbon molecules known as PAHs. The pretty blue petals of the Iris Nebula span about six light-years. The colorful field-of-view stretches almost five Full Moons across the sky.

[SunkenCiv]

[Credit and Copyright: Federico Pelliccia]

[SunkenCiv]

That's a mighty nice nebula.

The Big One

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[NewCenturions]

I would love to hang giant astronomy pictures in my room! Nature does the best ‘art’!

[SunkenCiv]

:’) No wonder it took so long for our ancestors to start living indoors!

[minnesota_bound]

View the big one and then press F11 on your keyboard to view full screen without the browser toolbar in the way.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks.