Posted on 11/12/2011 9:55:11 PM PST by SunkenCiv
Explanation: Few butterflies have a wingspan this big. The bright clusters and nebulae of planet Earth's night sky are often named for flowers or insects, and NGC 6302 is no exception. With an estimated surface temperature of about 250,000 degrees C, the central star of this particular planetary nebula is exceptionally hot though -- shining brightly in ultraviolet light but hidden from direct view by a dense torus of dust. This dramatically detailed close-up of the dying star's nebula was recorded by the Hubble Space Telescope soon after it was upgraded in 2009. Cutting across a bright cavity of ionized gas, the dust torus surrounding the central star is near the center of this view, almost edge-on to the line-of-sight. Molecular hydrogen has been detected in the hot star's dusty cosmic shroud. NGC 6302 lies about 4,000 light-years away in the arachnologically correct constellation of the Scorpion (Scorpius).
(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...
[Credit: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble SM4 ERO Team ]
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I think this is the most beautiful one yet.
Absolutely beautiful! Thanks very much.
Praise The LORD!!!
It is a nice one, isn’t it? I didn’t click to see the full-sized one yet, it’s probably eye-knocking-out kinda nice.
It is just stunning big. Wish I had something bigger than my laptop monitor. I even had to show my husband. Just a big fat WOW! Thanks for this one. :)
Breathtaking!
Thanks for posting this!
It must have been a major kaboom when it formed.
Beautiful; thanks for posting.
I know I’m repearting myself, but again, picutures like this make you realize how strange and wonderful (empahsis onthe wonderful) our universe is.
Absolutely beautiful, SunkenCiv! The image is just breathtaking! Love it.
One of my all-time favorite nebulae!
When a big nebulii
hits you right in the eyes
that’s amore’ (apologies to Dean Martin and family)
I’m a cat’s eye, eta carinae kind of guy but this is sure a purty one. Thanks!
Maybe God has the video in His library! :)
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