Astronomy Picture of the Day 8-14-02

NASA ^ | 8-13-02 | Robert Nemiroff & Jerry Bonnell

[mtngrl@vrwc]

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 August 14

Giant Emission Nebula NGC 3603 in Infrared
Credit: 2MASS Project, UMass, IPAC/Caltech, NSF, NASA

Explanation: NGC 3603 is the largest region of glowing gas in our Milky Way galaxy. Spanning over 20 light years across, the giant emission nebula (HII region) is home to a massive star cluster, thick dust pillars, and a star about to explode. NGC 3603 was captured above in infrared light by a Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) telescope. The young star cluster near the center heats the region's mostly hydrogen gas. Many stars in the cluster are estimated to be about one million years old, much less than the five billion-year age of our Sun. NGC 3603 lies approximately 20,000 light years away toward the constellation of Carina.

[mtngrl@vrwc]

Astronomy Fun Fact:

Micrometeorites are microscopic metal meteors. Tons of these fall on Earth each day.

To collect micrometeorites you need to find a place where they can become concentrated. The drains of a house or building work well since rainwater can wash particles off of an entire roof and collect them at the drain spout. Tile roofs are best since they drain very well and do not produce many other sorts of particles or debris.

But dust, plants, pieces of window screens and all other sorts of airborne material also collect there. To find the metallic micrometeorites, collect and dry some of the material from a deep bowl at the base of the drain spout. After removing leaves and other debris, place the remaining material on a piece of paper and place a magnet under the paper. Tilt and tap the paper so that all of the non-metallic particles fall off. Many of the remaining metallic particles are pieces of space dust! To examine them, place the paper under a microscope. High power will be required to see them clearly. Most of the particles are not from space, but the micrometeorites will show signs of their fiery trip through the atmosphere. They will be rounded and may have small pits on their surfaces.

Get on the APOD PING list!

[mtngrl@vrwc]

APOD PING!

[RightWhale]

A not inconsiderable amount of micrometeorite material falls to earth every day. Over 10 million years, it would be a foot deep all over the planet. Or something of that order. The metallic pieces are easier to find with that technique, but the majority of the material will be stony. Easy to spot with a microscope. A sheet of poly painting cloth will also work. Make an inverted tent so the particles fall toward the center and collect through a hole into a can. No rain required.

[BradyLS]

Cool! How did they figure the process out? It makes perfect sense, though. For that matter, I did they know that the metoerite particles with the speculated fossilzed microbe forms come from Mars?

[sleavelessinseattle]

Late to the party here...Perfectimundo MtGrl...I didn't know you were going to assign us HOMEWORK!!! SPectrographic analysis has been raised to a fine art and I imagine the unique composition of the sample and the fact that no earthly geologic process would have deposited the material on top of an ice flow, led scientists on a hunt for what sort of source would have had that balance of rock and minerals...the microtubules supposedly resembling primitive bacteria action are similar to fossilized remains generated here but are significantly smaller in size...nothing quite like it has been found native to earth as far as I remember which puts the whole discovery in question... The theory that a big strike on mars knocked chunks of material into space where it had an orbit that allowed some of it to fall to earth is amazingly complex, but Occams razor must be followed and rocks don't just precipitate onto Antarctica! They come from somewhere...

[MozartLover]

Beautiful!

bump

[MeekOneGOP]

Thanks for the ping ! Here comes........

[Sock]

Wow!

Do you know of anyone trying this and actually finding micrometeorites?

[mtngrl@vrwc]

"Do you know of anyone trying this and actually finding micrometeorites?"

Nope. I have never tried this, but it just sounds like a fun thing to try some time. It's been a while since I have cleaned my rain gutters....so maybe I will mix a little fun in with a tiresome chore. ;-)

I don't know who figured this little process out, but it does make sense. What a thrill it would be to actually find some little particles that are rounded and pitted!

WhiteWhale and sleaveless in seattle - You two just amaze me with your vast wealth of knowledge. I am in awe of you both!

[inquest]

If I had only looked at the picture without reading the explanation, I would have most certainly concluded that the thing was a galaxy unto itself. It looks like one of them barred-spirals. Does anyone know if there really is a spiral structure to the thing, or is that just a two-dimensional illusion?

[mtngrl@vrwc]

It must be an illusion. It says it's a nebula composed of stars and dust. Anyone else know more about it?

My first thought upon seeing the picture is that if the colors were opposite from what they appear to be (like the white areas were black and the black areas were white), it would look like a mole on someone's arm that needs to be checked out, pronto. ;-)

[RightWhale]

I know this has been done in Antarctica. I have thought of doing this for many years. Maybe this winter, January, when the air is perfectly still for a month would be a good time. Possibly there would be less airborne dust from glacial scouring.

[inquest]

...it would look like a mole on someone's arm that needs to be checked out, pronto. ;-)

Well, fine! I was going to send you a dozen roses, but now... ;-p

[mtngrl@vrwc]

Well, fine! I was going to send you a dozen roses, but now... ;-p

Hey....I want those roses! I can't help if it my first impression was that it looked like a strange mole! Hehehe!