Posted on 09/29/2011 2:35:08 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
Explanation: In this crowded starfield spanning some 3 degrees within the high flying constellation Cygnus, the eye is drawn to the Cocoon Nebula. A compact star forming region, the cosmic Cocoon punctuates a long trail of obscuring interstellar dust clouds. Cataloged as IC 5146, the nebula is nearly 15 light-years wide, located some 4,000 light years away. Like other star forming regions, it stands out in red, glowing, hydrogen gas excited by the young, hot stars and blue, dust-reflected starlight at the edge of an otherwise invisible molecular cloud. In fact, the bright star near the center of this nebula is likely only a few hundred thousand years old, powering the nebular glow as it clears out a cavity in the molecular cloud's star forming dust and gas. But the long dusty filaments that appear dark in this visible light image are themselves hiding stars in the process of formation, seen at infrared wavelengths.
(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...
[Credit & Copyright: Tony Hallas]
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That’s a Cool One!
Now THAT’s Astronomy.
Ah, yeah,Joe. A man after my own heart.
You’re such a bastard.
:-))
I feel so tiny.
I shot this not long ago of M42 Orion Nebula.
Canon 40D LX200 W/Classic LX200 10"- 6.3FR, 19X65 seconds combined/calibrated/stacked in DSS - w/Astronomic LP filter
M42 Orion Nebula, at about 1275 light years out, is a stellar nursery where over 700 stars at various stages are being formed within the central core of the nebula.
Dragnet, Dragnet, Dragnet.
Wouldn’t it be so intergalactic for YOU to host this thread?
You have the knowledge. And the love. Share the love.
I’ve never hosted a thread...And I don’t think I’d have time to post a pic/story every day.
Seems SV and others have done pretty well over the years.
But I really appreciate the thought.
BTW, my knowledge regarding this specific field, I learned on my own, which regrettably did not include any formal education in astronomy/physics/science.
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