Posted on 12/09/2025 12:05:44 PM PST by MtnClimber
Explanation: This cosmic close-up looks deep inside the Soul Nebula. The dark and brooding dust clouds outlined by bright ridges of glowing gas are cataloged as IC 1871. About 25 light-years across, the telescopic field of view spans only a small part of the much larger Heart and Soul nebulae. At an estimated distance of 6,500 light-years, the star-forming complex lies within the Perseus spiral arm of the Milky Way, seen in planet Earth's skies toward the constellation of the Queen of Aethiopia (Cassiopeia). An example of triggered star formation, the dense star-forming clouds of IC 1871 are themselves sculpted by the intense winds and radiation of the region's massive young stars. This color image adopts a palette made popular in Hubble images of star-forming regions.
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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.
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It looks like King Kong fell off on the left side.
Wow.
An amazing photograph. I can remember when even the major observatories couldn’t get images this good. The technology we amateurs have in our reach today is amazing. Who knows what is going to be available say, 20 years from now.
Some very, very big dude’s pet pterodactyl.
Wow! Looks like a lion face.
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