Astronomy Picture of the Day 10-14-02

NASA ^ | 10-14-02 | 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 October 14

IC 5146: The Cocoon Nebula
Credit & Copyright: Jean-Charles Cuillandre (CFHT), Hawaiian Starlight, CFHT

Explanation: How did this nebula get created? The Cocoon Nebula, cataloged as IC 5146, is a strikingly beautiful nebula located about 4,000 light years away toward the constellation of Cygnus. Inside the Cocoon is a newly developing open cluster of stars. Like other stellar nurseries, the Cocoon Nebula is, at the same time, an emission nebula, a reflection nebula, and an absorption nebula. Speculation based on recent measurements holds that the massive star in the center of the above image opened a hole in an existing molecular cloud through which much of the glowing material flows. The same star, which formed about 100,000 years ago, now provides the energy source for much of the emitted and reflected light from this nebula.

[petuniasevan]

Astronomy Fun Fact:

Most of this nebula is of the emission type. That means that its atoms are energized until they glow ("ionized"), like a fluorescent or neon tube. The reason emission nebulae are red for the most part is that the gas that comprises them is almost all hydrogen. This primordial element, ionized, glows red.

[petuniasevan]

[MeekOneGOP]

[BlessedAmerican]

Good morning! Beautiful picture of the Lord's handiwork this morning.

We were recently in a place with no or little man made lights and the stars shimmered. Living near a city you just forget how beautiful the night sky is.

Enjoyed the astronomy fun fact. I am going to impress someone today! Thanks, God Bless