Posted on 04/02/2014 9:41:19 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
Explanation: This fantastic skyscape lies near the edge of NGC 2174 a star forming region about 6,400 light-years away in the nebula-rich constellation of Orion. It follows mountainous clouds of gas and dust carved by winds and radiation from the region's newborn stars, now found scattered in open star clusters embedded around the center of NGC 2174, off the top of the frame. Though star formation continues within these dusty cosmic clouds they will likely be dispersed by the energetic newborn stars within a few million years. Recorded at infrared wavelengths by the Hubble Space Telescope, the interstellar scene spans about 6 light-years. The image celebrates the upcoming 24th anniversary of Hubble's launch onboard the space shuttle orbiter Discovery on April 24, 1990.
(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...
[Credit: NASA, ESA, Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)]
You can almost see ghostly figures in that one.
I wonder if gravity is pulling the dust from the heads or the heads are moving outward while shedding the the dust?
The whole thing is astounding. It is really hard to wrap the mind around just how big that formation is. The nearest star to us, Proxima Centauri, is only 4.3 light years away.
‘- - - ghostly figures in that one’
saw that immediately - with a King at the top
That is a freakin’ trip...
Well, that’s a real Rorschach test.
Ghostly figures and a king at the top who looks like an aardvark in the expanded version on the APOD site.
Very interesting. Hermann Rorschach would have loved to analyze that.
Breathtaking!
There is a small Galaxy at the top of the picture.
That’s some real detail in there.
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