Astronomy Picture of the Day 3-17-02

NASA ^ | 3-17-02 | Robert Nemiroff and Jerry Bonnell

[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 March 17

NGC 2244: A Star Cluster in the Rosette Nebula
Credit & Copyright: J. C. Cuillandre & G. Fahlman (CFHT Staff), CFHT

Explanation: In the heart of the Rosette Nebula lies a bright open cluster of stars that lights up the nebula. The stars of NGC 2244 formed from the surrounding gas only four million years ago and emit light and wind that define the nebula's appearance today. High energy light from the bright young stars of NGC 2244 ionizes the surrounding hydrogen gas clouds to create the red emission nebula appearance. The hot wind of particles that streams away from the cluster stars contributes to an already complex menagerie of gas and dust filaments while slowly evacuating the cluster center. NGC 2244 measures about 50 light-years across, lies about 4500 light-years away, and is visible with binoculars towards the constellation of Monoceros.

[petuniasevan]

Well, it's not green, but it's beautiful.

Click on the links for several other views of the entire Rosette Nebula.
It's in the direction of the constellation Monoceros (Unicorn).
Using binoculars or a telescope,look slightly south of an imaginary line between star Procyon and star Betelgeuse, about 2/3 of the way toward Betelgeuse.
In Mid March, in the mid-latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, you'll need to look after full dark but before 10:30 PM.
BTW, light pollution WILL blot out your view of the nebula.

Coordinates for the nebula:
R.A. 6H 30.399M
Dec. 5° 2.949'

Azimuth 224° 21.534'
Altitude 41 ° 39.240'

[petuniasevan]

PING

[snowfox]

I live in Phoenix, so it is doubtful that I can see this, due to light pollution. It is impressive, however.

[snowfox]

Pictures like this one, and HSTs' widefield field shot are simply amazing. While such a concept as infinty does not exist in nature, the sheer number of stars that can be seen, as well as the galaxies filled with stars suggest that there is not a hairs worth of difference.