Astronomy Picture of the Day -- The Seagull Nebula

NASA ^ | August 29, 2015 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

Explanation: A broad expanse of glowing gas and dust presents a bird-like visage to astronomers from planet Earth, suggesting its popular moniker - The Seagull Nebula. This portrait of the cosmic bird covers a 1.6 degree wide swath across the plane of the Milky Way, near the direction of Sirius, alpha star of the constellation Canis Major. Of course, the region includes objects with other catalog designations: notably NGC 2327, a compact, dusty emission region with an embedded massive star that forms the bird's head (aka the Parrot Nebula, above center). Dominated by the reddish glow of atomic hydrogen, the complex of gas and dust clouds with bright young stars spans over 100 light-years at an estimated 3,800 light-year distance.

[SunkenCiv]

[Credit and Copyright: Dieter Willasch (Astro-Cabinet)]

[SunkenCiv]

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[Telepathic Intruder]

That’s one ugly seagull. Beautiful nebula, though.

[Red Badger]

Jonathan Livingston?.............

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Not to pick nits but....there's no such species as a seagull.

There are at least twenty-eight types of gull species seen in North America...none are called seagulls. There are Herring Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, Glaucous Gulls, etc, etc.

A scientist ought to know better when naming a nebula.

Awesome photo though.

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

“Not to pick nits but....”

But being the key word here. ;^)

[Telepathic Intruder]

You can't be an astronomer and a biologist. Unless of course, you're an astrobiologist. There is only one type of space gull I'm aware of, but it's spelled "Gul" (and capitalized or you end up in a Cardassian labor camp):



Probably my favorite Star Trek bad guy.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

The Seagull nebula was first photographed by Isaac Roberts, a Welsh engineer and businessman, back in the 19th century.

He was no scientist.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Funny...I had a feeling someone was going to mention Gul Dukat...or Gul Macet.

[Telepathic Intruder]

Funny that every Star Trek alien was human except for a few minor cosmetic differences. Bajorans especially; just a little nose bridge wrinkle and presto, an alien. Aliens in Star Trek could all interbreed as well, which is not only impossible for different species but doubly so for species that originated on separate planets. The “Great Bird of the Galaxy” was apparently not so well informed.

[cpdiii]

Relative to interbreeding of the sub-species on Star Trek, the underlying premise is that all those sub-species had a common origin that is unknown, i.e. an advanced civilization that spread through the universe and then vanished but leaving their genetic heritage in the universe. Thus is the ability for them to interbred.

[Telepathic Intruder]

The plot of the TNG episode “The Chase”. A billion years is more than enough time for speciation to occur, however. “Humanoids” would look nothing alike after only a few million years, let alone be able to breed.