Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Pelican Nebula Close-up

NASA ^ | November 26, 2011 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

Explanation: The prominent ridge of emission featured in this vivid skyscape is designated IC 5067. Part of a larger emission nebula with a distinctive shape, popularly called The Pelican Nebula, the ridge spans about 10 light-years and follows the curve of the cosmic pelican's head and neck. The Pelican Nebula close-up was constructed from narrowband data mapping emission from sulfur, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms to red, green, and blue colors. Fantastic, dark shapes inhabiting the view are clouds of cool gas and dust sculpted by energetic radiation from young, hot, massive stars. But stars are also forming within the dark shapes. In fact, twin jets emerging from the tip of the long, dark tendril below center are the telltale signs of an embedded protostar cataloged as Herbig-Haro 555. The Pelican Nebula itself, also known as IC 5070, is about 2,000 light-years away. To find it, look northeast of bright star Deneb in the high flying constellation Cygnus.

[SunkenCiv]

[Credit & Copyright: Martin Pugh]

[SunkenCiv]

Just in case my attempt at updating the APoD ping list from FReepmail -- I was away from home -- wasn't 100% successful, here's the link to yesterday's topic for anyone who may not have received a ping.

• M1: The Crab Nebula from Hubble

join or quit list APoD 'blog post new APoD topic Astronomy Picture of the Day topic & keyword Astronomy Chat, Bloggers & keyword Science Chat, Bloggers & keyword NASA's APoD archive Calendar 1995-present APoD on your desktop

[SunkenCiv]

The freebie wallpapers are excellent right now, includes a couple Christmas-related:

http://www.digitalblasphemy.com/freegallery.shtml

[the invisib1e hand]

Dwarf Nebula Procession bump (ya gotta hear Ed Palermo’s version).

[decimon]

Looks more Tolkien than pelican.

[JoeProBono]

[SunkenCiv]

More like Dixon Lanier Merritt.

[SunkenCiv]

LOL!

[SunkenCiv]

Wow, it’s pink-shifted!

[brytlea]

Well, it’s really perty....

[tanuki]

Can you put in some nebula fish, too?

[JoeProBono]

BLOWFISH NEBULA

[WKUHilltopper]

Pelican?? They see a Pelican in that?

[ixtl]

A very strange bird is the pelican,
His bill holds much more than his belly can;
He holds in his beak
Enough fish for a week,
Although I don’t see how the helican.
-Ogden Nash

[tanuki]

Oh, that is COOL!

[tanuki]

LOL!