Celestial Wonder Looks Uncannily Like a Manatee

space ^ | 19 January 2013 | Clara Moskowitz

[JoeProBono]

A watery-looking nebula in deep space is being renamed after the sea creature it strongly resembles: a manatee.

The nebula is the leftovers from a star that died in a supernova explosion about 20,000 years ago. Before it died, the giant star puffed out its outer gaseous layers, which now swirl in green-and-blue clouds around the dead hulk of the star, which has collapsed into a black hole.

Known officially as W50, the celestial object is being dubbed the Manatee Nebula by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), during a ceremony today (Jan. 19) at the Florida Manatee Festival in Crystal River, Fla. The NRAO will also unveil a new photo of the nebula taken by the Very Large Array (VLA) radio telescope network in New Mexico.

[JoeProBono]

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

Wow, that is weird.

[woofie]

It looks like my grandma to me

[null and void]

[null and void]

Yes it does...

[Kirkwood]

It’s hugh!

[null and void]

Too bad it’s in Aquila, not Sirius...

[ransomnote]

Is that mantee lying on his back unmoving...well..is he...dead?

[null and void]

No. ‘E’s just pining for the fjords..

[spokeshave]

Known officially as W50, the celestial object is being dubbed the Manatee Nebula

That's OK...it's not the infamous WD40

[Edward Teach]

Oh the huge manatee!

[JoeProBono]

[green pastures]

Just taking a water nap...

[proud American in Canada]

My grandfather lived in Sarasota, Florida, and there were efforts to protect the “sea cow”, if I remember the name correctly; motor boats kill them with their propellers. Pretty sad....

[proud American in Canada]

But it is odd how the shape in the stars really does resemble a manatee. :)

[golux]

Wow. that is hugh.

[JoeProBono]

[JoeProBono]

[Bratch]

[JoeProBono]