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Astronomy Picture of the Day 6-13-02
NASA ^ | 6-13-02 | Robert Nemiroff and Jerry Bonnell

Posted on 06/13/2002 5:36:43 AM PDT by petuniasevan

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2002 June 13
See Explanation.  Clicking on the picture will download
 the highest resolution version available.

The Tarantula Zone
Credit : M. Schirmer, T. Erben, M. Lombardi (IAEF Bonn), European Southern Observatory

Explanation: The Tarantula Nebula is more than 1,000 light-years across - a giant emission nebula within our neighboring galaxy the Large Magellanic Cloud. Inside this cosmic arachnid lies a central young cluster of massive stars, cataloged as R136, whose intense radiation and strong winds have helped energize the nebular glow and shape the spidery filaments. In this impressive color mosaic of images from the Wide-Field Imager camera on ESO's 2.2 meter telescope at La Silla Observatory, other young star clusters can be seen still within the nebula's grasp. Also notable among the denizens of the Tarantula zone are several dark clouds invading the nebula's outer limits as well as the dense cluster of stars NGC 2100 at the extreme left edge of the picture. The small but expanding remnant of supernova 1987a, the closest supernova in modern history, lies just off the lower right corner of the field. The rich mosaic's field of view covers an area on the sky about the size of the full moon in the southern constellation Dorado.


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: astronomy; dorado; dust; galaxy; gas; image; lmc; nebula; photography; southern; space; star; stars; tarantula
Isn't it a beautiful nebula? Now realize that it isn't even in OUR galaxy, but in the LMC, at a distance of 180,000 light-years! Impressive!

Get on the APOD PING list!

1 posted on 06/13/2002 5:36:43 AM PDT by petuniasevan
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To: MozartLover; Joan912; NovemberCharlie; snowfox; Dawgsquat; viligantcitizen; theDentist; grlfrnd...
APOD PING!
2 posted on 06/13/2002 5:39:29 AM PDT by petuniasevan
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To: petuniasevan
Majestic!
3 posted on 06/13/2002 6:11:39 AM PDT by aomagrat
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To: petuniasevan
Thanks for the ping. I'm just coming on board here and am wondering about the colors in these photos. Does NASA explain anything about the colors that we are seeing in these photos? I mean with these being so far away does that affect the actual coloring at all? Are these dumb questions? I am just so amazed at these colors!
4 posted on 06/13/2002 7:43:12 AM PDT by Boxsford
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To: petuniasevan
Yes, that is absolutely beautiful. And NOT in our Galaxy?? Wow!!! I don't think I'll ever look at the night skies the same.

I am so glad I got on your ping list. I'm enjoying these pictures immensely!!

5 posted on 06/13/2002 9:57:53 AM PDT by Vets_Husband_and_Wife
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To: Boxsford
Much of what we see these days from astronomy are not photos at all. They are images made from data. The data might be in the visible range or it might not. Colors are assigned to spectral values. For example if the sensor is picking up infra-red, there would be no color since infra-red is invisible. But then during data processing a shade of red might be assigned to the infra-red, or even another color, it doesn't matter. False color is the result. Those are not the real colors in most cases.
6 posted on 06/13/2002 9:58:30 AM PDT by RightWhale
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To: petuniasevan
Beautiful and humbling ... Thanks 'tunia!

"at a distance of 180,000 light-years" ... that's a very long way ... why that might be as far as Seattle, ya think?

7 posted on 06/13/2002 10:00:49 AM PDT by 2Trievers
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To: petuniasevan
bump
8 posted on 06/13/2002 12:23:49 PM PDT by MozartLover
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To: 2Trievers;Libertina;poisedwoman;big ern
's not so far! We'll have espresso waiting for anyone pioneering enough to attempt the voyage out here to the Nether regions...We even call Seattle "the Emerald City..." It looks like the set from Wizard of OZ when approached from the south...ALL are welcome...Come see our beautiful Puget Sound and please help me vote these LIBERAL SCHMUCKS out of office here before they ruin the place!!! Sorry!...Serenity now...Serenity now...Aahhh...Thanks P7 Beam of Mars...
9 posted on 06/13/2002 1:15:33 PM PDT by sleavelessinseattle
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To: petuniasevan
Glorious! Whenever I wonder whether God is real, I remind myself that at this moment, He's creating new stars and planets at distances we can't even imagine. My idea of heaven is to fly faster than the speed of light around the cosmos and see everything. Thanks for the head start.
10 posted on 06/13/2002 3:30:35 PM PDT by PoisedWoman
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To: PoisedWoman
Hey are you aware of Table Mountain star party??? If you've not been, you should go! www.TMSPA.com for details...IT IS A BLAST!!!!from the past...sorry.
11 posted on 06/13/2002 4:22:01 PM PDT by sleavelessinseattle
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To: PoisedWoman
Such sweet thoughts!
12 posted on 06/14/2002 6:04:51 AM PDT by Boxsford
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To: RightWhale
Thank you for your reply. I suspected the colors could not be real. Nevertheless, the pictures are awesome! Hey, in reality they may be even more spectacular than what we are seeing.
13 posted on 06/14/2002 6:06:38 AM PDT by Boxsford
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To: sleavelessinseattle
Star party looks great. Living in Puget Sound, I haven't seen more than a handful of stars for years, and I miss them very much. Are you going to this event?
14 posted on 06/14/2002 6:22:34 AM PDT by PoisedWoman
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To: PoisedWoman
Alas I am broke! registration is nearing the end...I can recommend A wonderful drive and walk in alpine flowers to you however...Harts Pass...Take the Mazama Exit off Highway 20 East...go to the T in the road and turn left and drive up to slate peak(20 mile dead end, my favorite road design!)...The highest maintained road in WA state... Us Govt blew the top off the mountain for a radar installation...More alpine flowers than any maintained garden Ive ever been to for about 2 weeks at the end of June...Spring hasn't happened yet that high...GO!!!! Bring your camera and at night...the stars are like diamonds!!!
15 posted on 06/14/2002 6:34:01 AM PDT by sleavelessinseattle
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To: sleavelessinseattle; petuniasevan
A beautiful starry nite!

True story: I knew a lib couple who named their child Crab Nebula because of its beauty...hmm, it certainly didn't translate in the name did it? Poor child, what would she be called? Crabby? Neb? Ula? LOL Hope she found a solution. (Although Dweezil (?) Zappa didn't seem to mind... Liberals - too funny.
16 posted on 06/15/2002 9:46:44 PM PDT by Libertina
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To: Libertina
LOL...Did you click on the image? The detail of the TRUE fullscreen blew me away...This was a keeper...BR SS
17 posted on 06/16/2002 12:30:44 AM PDT by sleavelessinseattle
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