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Astronomy Picture of the Day - Halloween and the Wizard Nebula
NASA ^ | 31 Oct, 2023 | Image Credit & Copyright: Richard McInnis

Posted on 10/31/2023 12:41:06 PM PDT by MtnClimber

Explanation: Halloween's origin is ancient and astronomical. Since the fifth century BC, Halloween has been celebrated as a cross-quarter day, a day halfway between an equinox (equal day / equal night) and a solstice (minimum day / maximum night in the northern hemisphere). With a modern calendar however, even though Halloween occurs today, the real cross-quarter day will occur next week. Another cross-quarter day is Groundhog Day. Halloween's modern celebration retains historic roots in dressing to scare away the spirits of the dead. Perhaps a fitting tribute to this ancient holiday is this closeup view of the Wizard Nebula (NGC 7380). Visually, the interplay of stars, gas, and dust has created a shape that appears to some like a fictional ancient sorcerer. Although the nebula may last only a few million years, some of the stars being conjured from the gas by the great gravitational powers may outlive our Sun.


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: nasa
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For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.

1 posted on 10/31/2023 12:41:06 PM PDT by MtnClimber
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To: MtnClimber

2 posted on 10/31/2023 12:41:25 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of Colorado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: 21stCenturion; 21twelve; 4everontheRight; abb; AFB-XYZ; AFPhys; Agatsu77; America_Right; ...
Pinging the APOD list.

🪐 🌟 🌌 🍔


3 posted on 10/31/2023 12:41:58 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of Colorado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

“You’re a Nebula, Harry.”


4 posted on 10/31/2023 12:43:15 PM PDT by ClearCase_guy (They say "Our Democracy" but they mean Cosa Nostra.)
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To: MtnClimber
Witch head nebula:



I see a witch, I don't see a wizard.
5 posted on 10/31/2023 12:47:59 PM PDT by Telepathic Intruder
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To: Telepathic Intruder

Is that Hillary? Where is her broom?


6 posted on 10/31/2023 12:49:16 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of Colorado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

Satan’s pitchfork sticking upward at center right.


7 posted on 10/31/2023 12:58:33 PM PDT by rfp1234 (E Porcibus Unum )
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To: MtnClimber

That’s just a pareidolic effect. The real Hillary is far more hideous.


8 posted on 10/31/2023 1:11:39 PM PDT by Telepathic Intruder
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To: MtnClimber

I can’t see the nebula for all that dust!..................


9 posted on 10/31/2023 1:25:36 PM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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To: MtnClimber

Balrog at the bottom. My ex at upper right. A witch and the Devil sword-fighting in the upper left & middle. Probably friends of the ex. Heh.


10 posted on 10/31/2023 1:38:11 PM PDT by AFB-XYZ (Two options: 1) Stand up, or 2) Bend over)
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