Astronomy Picture of the Day -- The Lagoon Nebula in Hydrogen, Sulfur, and Oxygen

NASA ^ | April 05, 2016 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

Explanation: The majestic Lagoon Nebula is filled with hot gas and the home for many young stars. Spanning 100 light years across while lying only about 5000 light years distant, the Lagoon Nebula is so big and bright that it can be seen without a telescope toward the constellation of the Archer (Sagittarius). Many bright stars are visible from NGC 6530, an open cluster that formed in the nebula only several million years ago. The greater nebula, also known as M8 and NGC 6523, is named "Lagoon" for the band of dust seen to the right of the open cluster's center. The featured image was taken in the light emitted by Hydrogen (shown in brown), Sulfur (red), and Oxygen (blue) and displayed in enhanced color. The featured picture is a newly processed panorama of M8, capturing twice the diameter of the Full Moon. Star formation continues in the Lagoon Nebula as witnessed by the many globules that exist there.

[SunkenCiv]

[Credit and Copyright: John Nemcik]

[SunkenCiv]

Whoa.

The Big One

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]

I get the impression that it is not a coincidence that the brain-dead childish keyword trolls start showing up in these science topics shortly after I post pretty much anything about either Rand or Ron, the original Paultards. Seriously, check it out.

[SunkenCiv]

Additional ping -- keyword troll alert. The vandalism showed up before I clicked 'post' for the first APoD ping. Apparently the dolt didn't notice that JimRob has an actual special Topic for APoD that antedates my FReeping days.

[Boogieman]

Hydrogen, sulfur and oxygen?

So the nebula is basically a big cloud of sulfuric acid???

[Red Badger]

Rotten eggs on a raft............wreck
‘em!.............

[SunkenCiv]

There’s probably a warning sign routing traffic well out around it.

[Red Badger]

I’ve just coned a new word:

KEYWORDBOMBED.....................

[BenLurkin]

Almost looks like you could fall in!

[Conan the Librarian]

Looks like the issue has been cleaned up.

M8 is a jewel of the night sky and I think the closest to directly in line with us towards the center of the galaxy. The actual center is just below it in the sky.

Not that we can see, it’s all dust and gas.

[SunkenCiv]

Thx!

[SunkenCiv]

That square-looking formation to the upper right is known as “Gilligan’s Raft”.

[BenLurkin]

Is it really?

Or are you pulling my leg?

[SunkenCiv]

The second one.

Great, now I’ve got The Honeybees’ “You Need Us” song running in my mind.

[SunkenCiv]

;’)

[dr_lew]

Just for the contrast, here's an animated comparison between the APOD and an image I got last August at the prime focus of my Starmax 127mm. With a focal length of 1540 mm that's about f/12.1, with a 30 second exposure.

[TigersEye]

I looked and looked and I couldn’t find Brooke Shields in there anywhere.

[TigersEye]

I wonder if the keyword trolls know that Jim and the Mods
(great band by the way) know exactly who posts each keyword?

[TheOldLady]

I like “keyworddolt,” as in: Get off the APOD thread, you keyworddolt!

[SunkenCiv]

:’)