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Astronomy Picture of the Day -- IC 4603: Reflection Nebula in Ophiuchius
NASA ^ | July 23, 2014 | (see photo credit)

Posted on 07/24/2014 2:57:38 PM PDT by SunkenCiv

Explanation: Why does this starfield photograph resemble an impressionistic painting? The effect is created not by digital trickery but by large amounts of interstellar dust. Dust, minute globs rich in carbon and similar in size to cigarette smoke, frequently starts in the outer atmospheres of large, cool, evolved stars. The dust is dispersed as the star dies and grows as things stick to it in the interstellar medium. Dense dust clouds are opaque to visible light and can completely hide background stars. For less dense clouds, the capacity of dust to preferentially reflect blue starlight becomes important, effectively blooming the stars blue light out and marking the surrounding dust. Nebular gas emissions, typically brightest in red light, can combine to form areas seemingly created on an artist's canvas. Photographed above is the central part of the nebula IC 4603 surrounding the bright star SAO 184376 (actually 8th magnitude) which mostly illuminates the blue reflection nebula. IC 4603 can be seen near the very bright star Antares (1st magnitude) toward the constellation of Ophiuchus.

July 23, 2014

(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; astronomy; ic4603; ophiuchius; science
[Credit & Copyright: Rolf Olsen]

1 posted on 07/24/2014 2:57:39 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
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To: brytlea; cripplecreek; decimon; bigheadfred; KoRn; Grammy; steelyourfaith; Mmogamer; dayglored; ...
The Big One

2 posted on 07/24/2014 3:01:20 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: SunkenCiv

It’s nice to know that smoking hasn’t been banned in interstellar space.


3 posted on 07/24/2014 3:35:55 PM PDT by TigersEye ("No man left behind" means something different to 0bama.)
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To: SunkenCiv
See a Jay on a nest at top. Left bottom an Owl. Past middle bottom Galileo. A partial Face at bottom right. How Beautiful!
4 posted on 07/24/2014 3:48:06 PM PDT by no-to-illegals (Scrutinize our government and Secure the Blessing of Freedom and Justice)
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To: SunkenCiv

Antares is in the constellation of Scorpio. Ophiuchius is above Scorpio.


5 posted on 07/24/2014 4:09:50 PM PDT by AceMineral (Some people are slaves of their own stupidity.)
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