Jump to content

Bassball's-Space Picture of the Day!


bassballs

Recommended Posts

  • Members
Posted

I've posted a few similar pictures of the horsehead nebula in the past but, I think this one is the coolest one that I've found so far...

 

horsehead_noao.jpg

 

The Horsehead Nebula

Credit: Nigel Sharp (NOAO), NSF; Copyright: AURA

Explanation: One of the most identifiable nebulae in the sky, the Horsehead Nebula in Orion, is part of a large, dark, molecular cloud. Also known as Barnard 33, the unusual shape was first discovered on a photographic plate in the late 1800s. The red glow originates from hydrogen gas predominantly behind the nebula, ionized by the nearby bright star Sigma Orionis. The darkness of the Horsehead is caused mostly by thick dust, although the lower part of the Horsehead's neck casts a shadow to the left. Streams of gas leaving the nebula are funneled by a strong magnetic field. Bright spots in the Horsehead Nebula's base are young stars just in the process of forming. Light takes about 1500 years to reach us from the Horsehead Nebula. The above image was taken with the 0.9-meter telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...