Posted on 12/28/2012 8:47:24 PM PST by SunkenCiv
Explanation: Fantastic shapes lurk in clouds of glowing hydrogen gas in NGC 6188, about 4,000 light-years away. The emission nebula is found near the edge of a large molecular cloud unseen at visible wavelengths, in the southern constellation Ara. Massive, young stars of the embedded Ara OB1 association were formed in that region only a few million years ago, sculpting the dark shapes and powering the nebular glow with stellar winds and intense ultraviolet radiation. The recent star formation itself was likely triggered by winds and supernova explosions, from previous generations of massive stars, that swept up and compressed the molecular gas. Joining NGC 6188 on this cosmic canvas is rare emission nebula NGC 6164, also created by one of the region's massive O-type stars. Similar in appearance to many planetary nebulae, NGC 6164's striking, symmetric gaseous shroud and faint halo surround its bright central star at the lower right. The field of view spans about two full Moons, corresponding to 70 light years at the estimated distance of NGC 6188.
(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...
[Credit & Copyright: Kfir Simon]
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I wonder if that halo is the magnetopause, between the magnetic field of the star at the heart of the small nebula, and the plasma from the larger nebula. They say they are 200 light years away, but if that is the magnetic field, I don’t think it would be visible unless it were interacting with charged particles, causing visible light discharges like we see with the aurora.
It is a beautiful picture! Thanks for posting!
Another Beauty!
I look at that picture and see power and energy. Amazing, Sunky!
WOW! :O
That is beautiful!!
:’) My pleasure. That’s a big old pile of energy alright.
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