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Explanation: The diffuse hydrogen-alpha glow of emission region Sh2-27 fills this cosmic scene. The field of view spans nearly 3 degrees across the nebula-rich constellation Ophiuchus toward the central Milky Way. A Dark Veil of wispy interstellar dust clouds draped across the foreground is chiefly identified as LDN 234 and LDN 204 from the 1962 Catalog of Dark Nebulae by American astronomer Beverly Lynds. Sh2-27 itself is the large but faint HII region surrounding runaway O-type star Zeta Ophiuchi. Along with the Zeta Oph HII region, LDN 234 and LDN 204 are likely 500 or so light-years away. At that...

Astronomical Images of Nebulae and Galaxies to Jeremiah Clark's 'Prince of Denmark's March,' a Trumpet Voluntary. I am awed by the vastness and the beauty of space. A trumpet voluntary conveys that awe perfectly.

Bright Nebulae of M33 Credit & Copyright: Ken Crawford (Rancho Del Sol Observatory) Explanation: Gorgeous spiral galaxy M33 seems to have more than its fair share of bright emission nebulae. In fact, narrow-band and broad-band image data are combined in this beautifully detailed composite to trace the reddish emission nebulae, star forming HII regions, sprawling along loose spiral arms that wind toward the galaxy's core. Historically of great interest to astronomers, M33's giant HII regions are some of the largest known stellar nurseries - sites of the formation of short-lived but very massive stars. Intense ultraviolet radiation from the...

What if we had a way of attainng part of the speed of light, and then partially attracted the light to us magnetically, or with gases, somehow, or a type of gravity. Doesn't gravity of a celestial body depend upon the chemical make-up of the celestial body, and how is that in congruence with mass, change gravity. Light cannot escape a black hole, but gases can. Maybe on the flip side of some of these black holes, the gases that escape it, converge, and start a new nebulae.

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 December 1 The Pleiades Star Cluster Credit & Copyright: David Malin (AAO), ROE, UKS Telescope Explanation: It is the most famous star cluster on the sky. The Pleiades can be seen without binoculars from even the depths of a light-polluted city. Also known as the Seven Sisters and M45, the Pleiades is one of the brightest and closest open clusters. The Pleiades contains over 3000 stars, is...