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Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Supergiant Star Gamma Cygni
NASA ^ | July 09, 2013 | (see photo credit)

Posted on 07/09/2013 2:31:21 AM PDT by SunkenCiv

Explanation: Supergiant star Gamma Cygni lies at the center of the Northern Cross, a famous asterism in the constellation of the Swan (Cygnus). Known by the proper name Sadr, the bright star also lies at the center of this gorgeous skyscape, featuring a complex of stars, dust clouds, and glowing nebulae along the plane of our Milky Way galaxy. The field of view spans over 3 degrees (six Full Moons) on the sky and includes emission nebula IC 1318 and open star cluster NGC 6910. Left of Gamma Cygni and shaped like two glowing cosmic wings divided by a long dark dust lane, IC 1318's popular name is understandably the Butterfly Nebula. Above and slightly left of Gamma Cygni, are the young, still tightly grouped stars of NGC 6910. Some distance estimates for Gamma Cygni place it at around 750 light-years while estimates for IC 1318 and NGC 6910 range from 2,000 to 5,000 light-years.

July 09, 2013

(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; astronomy; cygnus; gammacygni; ic1318; ngc6910; sadr; science
[Credit & Copyright: Jose Francisco Hernandez (Altamira Observatory)]

1 posted on 07/09/2013 2:31:22 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
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To: brytlea; cripplecreek; decimon; bigheadfred; KoRn; Grammy; married21; steelyourfaith; Mmogamer; ...
The Big One

2 posted on 07/09/2013 2:31:40 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (McCain or Romney would have been worse, if you're a dumb ass.)
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To: SunkenCiv
TEMPUS FUGIT
3 posted on 07/09/2013 2:36:47 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper (Not Guilty by reason of sanity.)
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To: SunkenCiv

4 posted on 07/09/2013 2:42:08 AM PDT by JoeProBono (Mille vocibus imago valet;-{)
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To: JoeProBono

I think I see the mother ship! Touching the star lower left side. Lol


5 posted on 07/09/2013 3:08:13 AM PDT by saganite (What happens to taglines? Is there a termination date?)
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To: SunkenCiv

This is one big star, 12 times the sun’s mass and 150 times the sun’s radius, and it radiates 33,000 times more energy. I’m glad the Earth doesn’t orbit this guy LOL.


6 posted on 07/09/2013 3:55:12 AM PDT by RadiationRomeo (Step into my mind and glimpse the madness that is me)
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To: JoeProBono

Pretty, pretty!


7 posted on 07/09/2013 3:56:35 AM PDT by onyx (Please Support Free Republic - Donate Monthly! If you want on Sarah Palin's Ping List, Let Me know!)
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To: saganite

LOL.....you must browse ATS. Every other day. “PIC OF HUGH SHIP SUCKING POWER FROM SUN, THIS IS SERIAL”.

lol


8 posted on 07/09/2013 4:57:57 AM PDT by FreedomStar3028
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