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Astronomy Picture of the Day -- MWC 922: The Red Square Nebula
NASA ^
| January 31, 2016
| (see photo credit)
Posted on 01/31/2016 8:52:34 AM PST by SunkenCiv
Explanation: What could cause a nebula to appear square? No one is quite sure. The hot star system known as MWC 922, however, appears to be embedded in a nebula with just such a shape. The featured image combines infrared exposures from the Hale Telescope on Mt. Palomar in California, and the Keck-2 Telescope on Mauna Kea in Hawaii. A leading progenitor hypothesis for the square nebula is that the central star or stars somehow expelled cones of gas during a late developmental stage. For MWC 922, these cones happen to incorporate nearly right angles and be visible from the sides. Supporting evidence for the cone hypothesis includes radial spokes in the image that might run along the cone walls. Researchers speculate that the cones viewed from another angle would appear similar to the gigantic rings of supernova 1987A, possibly indicating that a star in MWC 922 might one day itself explode in a similar supernova.
(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...
TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; astronomy; mwc922; nebula; redsquarenebula; science; supernova1987a; telescopes
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[Credit and Copyright: Peter Tuthill (Sydney U.) & James Lloyd (Cornell)]
1
posted on
01/31/2016 8:52:34 AM PST
by
SunkenCiv
To: brytlea; cripplecreek; decimon; bigheadfred; KoRn; Grammy; steelyourfaith; Mmogamer; dayglored; ...
2
posted on
01/31/2016 8:53:53 AM PST
by
SunkenCiv
(Here's to the day the forensics people scrape what's left of Putin off the ceiling of his limo.)
To: SunkenCiv
If you look close, you can see the spires of St. Basil’s.
3
posted on
01/31/2016 8:54:54 AM PST
by
P.O.E.
(Pray for America)
To: SunkenCiv
Saw the headline and thought this was about Bernie Sanders’ honeymoon.
4
posted on
01/31/2016 8:55:16 AM PST
by
BenLurkin
(The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
To: BenLurkin
Thank you - you made me laugh out loud. Nothing like a good nebula to get your day going!
5
posted on
01/31/2016 8:56:26 AM PST
by
Sioux-san
To: SunkenCiv
Nice, love your pics, thanks.
6
posted on
01/31/2016 8:57:10 AM PST
by
jpsb
(Never believe anything in politics until it has been officially denied. Otto von Bismark)
To: SunkenCiv
7
posted on
01/31/2016 8:59:05 AM PST
by
IC Ken
To: SunkenCiv
I remember when the Mt Palomar telescope was the world's largest with its 200-inch (5-meter) mirror. Now there are 409 inch (10.4-meter) telescopes. The Hubble Telescope has a 94-inch (2.4-meter) mirror.
List of largest optical reflecting telescopesr. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_optical_reflecting_telescopes
Comparison optical telescope primary mirrors.svg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Comparison_optical_telescope_primary_mirrors.svgr.
8
posted on
01/31/2016 9:07:01 AM PST
by
r_barton
(We the People of the United States...)
To: SunkenCiv
9
posted on
01/31/2016 9:26:31 AM PST
by
samtheman
(Elect Trump, Build Wall. End Censorship.)
To: SunkenCiv
10
posted on
01/31/2016 9:32:01 AM PST
by
JoeProBono
(SOME IMAGES MAY BE DISTURBING ’VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED;-{)
To: SunkenCiv
11
posted on
01/31/2016 9:33:55 AM PST
by
AdmSmith
(GCTGATATGTCTATGATTACTCAT)
To: SunkenCiv
Wow...never saw that one before. It’s very cool! :-)
12
posted on
01/31/2016 9:39:59 AM PST
by
left that other site
(You shall know the Truth, and The Truth Shall Set You Free.)
To: left that other site
At first (before I red, er, read the description) I thought it was going to be a quasar.
13
posted on
01/31/2016 9:51:50 AM PST
by
SunkenCiv
(Here's to the day the forensics people scrape what's left of Putin off the ceiling of his limo.)
To: JoeProBono
;’) More like Orthanc or Barad-dur.
14
posted on
01/31/2016 9:55:42 AM PST
by
SunkenCiv
(Here's to the day the forensics people scrape what's left of Putin off the ceiling of his limo.)
To: r_barton; AdmSmith
15
posted on
01/31/2016 9:56:00 AM PST
by
SunkenCiv
(Here's to the day the forensics people scrape what's left of Putin off the ceiling of his limo.)
To: jpsb; IC Ken
16
posted on
01/31/2016 9:56:13 AM PST
by
SunkenCiv
(Here's to the day the forensics people scrape what's left of Putin off the ceiling of his limo.)
To: SunkenCiv
I’m thinking that a special effects filter on the camera might be a good guess.
17
posted on
01/31/2016 10:19:28 AM PST
by
Tucker39
(Welcome to America! Now speak English; and keep to the right....In driving, in Faith, and politics.)
To: SunkenCiv; r_barton; JoeProBono
Great APOD, Mr. Civilizations! Thank you for the post and ping.
The comparisons among all the long range telescopes is particularly interesting.
The nebula itself looks like an enormous faceted ruby to me, and it’s beautiful.
18
posted on
01/31/2016 10:24:34 AM PST
by
TheOldLady
(I miss the Gipper. Wish we had someone like him. ~ Pres. Trump and VP Cruz!)
To: AdmSmith
For those who would not like my opinion stated above; my original opinion was that it appears square because that’s how the Creator, The Lord Jesus Christ designed it.
And BTW, that’s why we have taste buds on our tongues instead of our ear lobes; and why our eyes and our feet both point in the same direction. Because our loving Creator designed us that way. Beats any other possible arrangement.
19
posted on
01/31/2016 10:26:44 AM PST
by
Tucker39
(Welcome to America! Now speak English; and keep to the right....In driving, in Faith, and politics.)
To: SunkenCiv
20
posted on
01/31/2016 10:34:28 AM PST
by
JoeProBono
(SOME IMAGES MAY BE DISTURBING ’VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED;-{)
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