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Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Stars and Dust Pillars in NGC 7822 from WISE
NASA ^ | December 01, 2014 | (see photo credit)

Posted on 12/04/2014 1:55:52 PM PST by SunkenCiv

Explanation: Hot, young stars and cosmic pillars of gas and dust seem to crowd into NGC 7822. At the edge of a giant molecular cloud toward the northern constellation Cepheus, this glowing star forming region lies about 3,000 light-years away. Within the nebula, bright edges and complex dust sculptures dominate this detailed skyscape taken in infrared light by NASA's Wide Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) satellite. The atomic emission by the cluster's gas is powered by energetic radiation from the hot stars, whose powerful winds and light also sculpt and erode the denser pillar shapes. Stars could still be forming inside the pillars by gravitational collapse, but as the pillars are eroded away, any forming stars will ultimately be cut off from their reservoir of star stuff. This field spans around 40 light-years at the estimated distance of NGC 7822.

December 01, 2014

(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; astronomy; ngc7822; science
[Credit: WISE, IRSA, NASA; ]Processing & Copyright: Francesco Antonucci

1 posted on 12/04/2014 1:55:52 PM PST by SunkenCiv
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To: brytlea; cripplecreek; decimon; bigheadfred; KoRn; Grammy; steelyourfaith; Mmogamer; dayglored; ...
The Big One

2 posted on 12/04/2014 1:56:25 PM PST by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/_______________________Celebrate the Polls, Ignore the Trolls)
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To: SunkenCiv

That one is a real beauty!


3 posted on 12/04/2014 6:05:03 PM PST by left that other site (You shall know the Truth, and The Truth Shall Set You Free.)
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To: SunkenCiv

Wow! Beautiful false color image. Credit to Mr. Antonucci his due for choices for this color scheme!

The solar winds from the blue white stars look like they are pushing this nebula apart, clearing out a space in the center.

Images in the picture. A Foxbat on the upper left, little nebula angels are popping up all over the place. Mary in an illumined grotto to the right, a peal in an oyster shell!


4 posted on 12/04/2014 8:35:10 PM PST by Pete from Shawnee Mission
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To: SunkenCiv

Now THAT looks like a picture of Creation, doesn’t it ?


5 posted on 12/05/2014 5:52:52 AM PST by fieldmarshaldj (Resist We Much)
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