Posted on 08/07/2023 12:05:48 PM PDT by MtnClimber
Explanation: The Pelican Nebula is slowly being transformed. IC 5070 (the official designation) is divided from the larger North America Nebula by a molecular cloud filled with dark dust. The Pelican, however, receives much study because it is a particularly active mix of star formation and evolving gas clouds. The featured picture was produced in three specific colors -- light emitted by sulfur, hydrogen, and oxygen -- that can help us to better understand these interactions. The light from young energetic stars is slowly transforming the cold gas to hot gas, with the advancing boundary between the two, known as an ionization front, visible in bright orange on the right. Particularly dense tentacles of cold gas remain. Millions of years from now, the Pelican nebula, bounded by dark nebula LDN 935, might no longer be known as the Pelican, as the balance and placement of stars and gas will surely leave something that appears completely different.
For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.
Wow.
One of the hot links in the explanation will take you to a creature that is different from the Pelican.
And some other hot links will take you to some creatures that are similar to parts of the image.
“Millions of years from now, the Pelican nebula, bounded by dark nebula LDN 935, might no longer be known as the Pelican....”
I can guarantee it won’t. It’ll probably be “to Xytgggg(click)zzz” or something like that.
Looks like a shark..................Okay, I Binged on Shark Week..................
M.C. Thanks!
I can actually see it for a change, although it could also pass for a swan or a stork!
Hey! That’s one of my brother’s paintings! How did you get that?
/s
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.