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Astronomy Picture of the Day - The Red Glow of the Cosmic Bat Nebula
NASA ^
| 9 Jul, 2026
| Image Credit & Copyright: Humbert Cédric Text: Keighley Rockcliffe (NASA GSFC, UMBC CSST, CRESST II)
Posted on 07/09/2026 11:43:14 AM PDT by MtnClimber
Explanation: This Cosmic Bat wishes you a happy Summerween! This mid-year celebration of Halloween transcends hemispheres, even though summer in the Northern hemisphere is winter in the South. Contrary to its eery aura, the Cosmic Bat Nebula (LDN 43), not to be confused with the Bat Nebula (NGC 6995), is a vibrant birthplace for stars. A bit of young starlight peeks through the dense clouds of gas and dust that make up the Cosmic Bat’s 12 lightyear wingspan. The ultraviolet light from the young stars energizes the nebula’s hydrogen gas, causing it to glow an ominous red. The jet of glowing hydrogen gas emerging from the bat’s head hints at the star formation hidden within.
TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; nasa
To be added or removed from the Astronomy Picture of the Day ping list please send me a request via "Private Reply" (Mail). 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.
To: MtnClimber
2
posted on
07/09/2026 11:43:38 AM PDT
by
MtnClimber
(For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
To: 21stCenturion; 21twelve; 4everontheRight; A Navy Vet; A_perfect_lady; abb; AFB-XYZ; AFPhys; ...
Pinging the APOD list
🪐 🌟 🌌 🍔
3
posted on
07/09/2026 11:44:27 AM PDT
by
MtnClimber
(For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
To: MtnClimber
4
posted on
07/09/2026 11:44:32 AM PDT
by
No name given
( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as )
To: MtnClimber
5
posted on
07/09/2026 11:50:21 AM PDT
by
Puppage
(You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to says it.)
To: MtnClimber
View on their web site as it changes color depending on whether your cursor is in frame or not. Very cool!
6
posted on
07/09/2026 11:52:18 AM PDT
by
econjack
To: MtnClimber
Intently staring at it, it seems to move, drawing you into it. Neat, and too early in the day for my nightly - thing.
7
posted on
07/09/2026 11:55:05 AM PDT
by
SkyDancer
( ~ Am Yisrael Chai ~)
To: MtnClimber
8
posted on
07/09/2026 12:04:44 PM PDT
by
Red Badger
(Iryna Zarutska, May 22, 2002 Kyiv, Ukraine – August 22, 2025 Charlotte, North Carolina Say her name)
To: SkyDancer
9
posted on
07/09/2026 12:05:34 PM PDT
by
Red Badger
(Iryna Zarutska, May 22, 2002 Kyiv, Ukraine – August 22, 2025 Charlotte, North Carolina Say her name)
To: Red Badger
LOL - I love that movie, have the DVD. Think I’ll watch it again tonight while quaffing a favorite beverage ...
10
posted on
07/09/2026 12:19:20 PM PDT
by
SkyDancer
( ~ Am Yisrael Chai ~)
To: MtnClimber
A Cosmic Bat?….I don’t see it. All I see is “something” with a crooked smile with all but two teeth missing. I dunno….
11
posted on
07/09/2026 1:35:51 PM PDT
by
telescope115
(Ad Astra, Ad Deum…)
To: MtnClimber
Bird of Prey decloaking right in front of us, Skipper!
12
posted on
07/09/2026 1:41:45 PM PDT
by
Delta 21
(None of us are descendants of fearful men!)
To: MtnClimber
they should use that for the batman signal from now on- so cool!
13
posted on
07/09/2026 3:44:34 PM PDT
by
Bob434
(Time flies like an arrow, Fruit flies like a banana)
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