Posted on 06/22/2012 3:45:15 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
Explanation: Grand spiral galaxies often seem to get all the glory, flaunting their young, bright, blue star clusters in beautiful, symmetric spiral arms. But small, irregular galaxies form stars too. In fact dwarf galaxy IC 2574 shows clear evidence of intense star forming activity in its telltale pinkish regions of glowing hydrogen gas. Just as in spiral galaxies, the turbulent star-forming regions in IC 2574 are churned by stellar winds and supernova explosions spewing material into the galaxy's interstellar medium and triggering further star formation. A mere 12 million light-years distant, IC 2574 is part of the M81 group of galaxies, seen toward the northern constellation Ursa Major. Also known as Coddington's Nebula, the lovely island universe is about 50,000 light-years across, discovered by American astronomer Edwin Coddington in 1898.
(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...
[Credit & Copyright: Stephen Leshin]
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beautiful
Star dust we are. Beautiful.
Most interesting.
Some pictures evoke stronger emotions than others. This one reminds me of some blue lagoon in a vast black ocean. I want to reach out and run my fingers through the cool blue waters.
Makes me want to fire up EVE and start a new character. Damn you Iceland and your VAT tax!
I barely understand what causes wind on earth. What causes these interstellar winds?
Space-a-dillas?
And we’ve got to get ourselves back to the- uh, never mind. ;’)
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