Posted on 07/28/2011 3:46:29 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
Explanation: Fantastic shapes lurk in clouds of glowing hydrogen gas in NGC 6188. The emission nebula is found near the edge of a large molecular cloud, unseen at visible wavelengths, in the southern constellation Ara, about 4,000 light-years away. Massive, young stars of the embedded Ara OB1 association were formed in that region only a few million years ago, sculpting the dark shapes and powering the nebular glow with stellar winds and intense ultraviolet radiation. The recent star formation itself was likely triggered by winds and supernova explosions, from previous generations of massive stars, that swept up and compressed the molecular gas. Joining NGC 6188 on this cosmic canvas is rare emission nebula NGC 6164, also created by one of the region's massive O-type stars. Similar in appearance to many planetary nebulae, NGC 6164's striking, symmetric gaseous shroud and faint halo surround its bright central star at the upper right. The field of view spans about two full Moons, corresponding to 70 light years at the estimated distance of NGC 6188.
(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...
[Credit & Copyright: Marco Lorenzi (Glittering Lights)]
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“unseen at visible wavelengths” means what?
Invisible to the naked eye. Things like infrared, ultraviolet, x rays etc.
Means you cannot see it in the wavelengths seen by the human eye.
How do they take a picture of it that is visible? Is it an artist’s rendering?
They take them with cameras sensitive to those wavelengths. I wish we could see in those wavelengths. Our night sky would be a regular light show.
Magnificent!
I see a giant squid. Really giant.
You and me both. I would love to be able to see the entire spectrum. But the theory is that we wouldn’t be able to process the information.
Best would be the ability to slide one’s vision up and down the scale, and to look at two or more different wavelengths at will. That would make life so much more interesting.
I see a giant bull’s head! :)
Looks more like a blue-eyed buffalo to me, but I see what you mean! I think... ;-)
OK, I can go with buffalo. :)
:-)
Saw this and thought I’d pass it on. Maybe it deserves a thread of it’s own...?
“Spectacular” Double Meteor Shower This Week
Looks beautiful, but it sounds like a neighborhood I’m glad my planet isn’t in.
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