Astronomy Picture of the Day -- APOD: 2012 September 28 - Stars in a Dusty Sky

NASA ^ | September 28, 2012 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

Explanation: Bright star Markab anchors this dusty skyscape. At the top right corner of the frame, Markab itself marks a corner of an asterism known as the Great Square, found within the boundaries of the constellation Pegasus, the flying horse. The wide and deep telescopic view rides along for some 5 degrees or about 10 times the angular diameter of the Full Moon, with blue reflection nebulae scattered around the scene. And even though this line-of-sight looks away from the plane of our Milky Way galaxy, it covers a region known to be filled with nearby molecular clouds. The associated dust clouds, high latitude galactic cirrus, are less than 1,000 light-years distant. Still apparent, but far beyond the Milky Way, are background galaxies, like the prominent edge-on spiral NGC 7497 near picture center.

[SunkenCiv]

[Credit & Copyright: John Davis]

[SunkenCiv]

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[dalebert]

amazing

[blueunicorn6]

This photo looks like a goose eating pretzels. Or the Chinese synchronized swim team performing to INNA GADA DAVIDA.

[TheOldLady]

Blue! Shiny! I’m happy.

[SunkenCiv]

You’ll love this one:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2938156/posts.