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Astronomy Picture of the Day - NGC 1499: The California Nebula
APOD.NASA.gov ^ | 10 Mar, 2021 | Image Credit & Copyright: Yannick Akar

Posted on 03/10/2021 3:20:27 PM PST by MtnClimber

Explanation: Could Queen Calafia's mythical island exist in space? Perhaps not, but by chance the outline of this molecular space cloud echoes the outline of the state of California, USA. Our Sun has its home within the Milky Way's Orion Arm, only about 1,000 light-years from the California Nebula. Also known as NGC 1499, the classic emission nebula is around 100 light-years long. On the featured image, the most prominent glow of the California Nebula is the red light characteristic of hydrogen atoms recombining with long lost electrons, stripped away (ionized) by energetic starlight. The star most likely providing the energetic starlight that ionizes much of the nebular gas is the bright, hot, bluish Xi Persei just to the right of the nebula. A regular target for astrophotographers, the California Nebula can be spotted with a wide-field telescope under a dark sky toward the constellation of Perseus, not far from the Pleiades.


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; astronomy; californianebula; nasa; ngc1499; science
To be added or removed from the Astronomy Picture of the Day ping list please send me a request via "Private Reply" (Mail).

For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.

1 posted on 03/10/2021 3:20:27 PM PST by MtnClimber
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To: MtnClimber

2 posted on 03/10/2021 3:20:49 PM PST by MtnClimber (For photos of Color ado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: 21stCenturion; 21twelve; 4everontheRight; abb; AFB-XYZ; America_Right; Art in Idaho; AZ .44 MAG; ...
Pinging the APOD list.

🪐 🌟 🌌

Today's Explanation at the link does not have a link to a pet, but has a link to a joke.

3 posted on 03/10/2021 3:21:18 PM PST by MtnClimber (For photos of Color ado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

Infested with thargoids from what I gather.


4 posted on 03/10/2021 3:24:38 PM PST by Darksheare (Those who support liberal "Republicans" summarily support every action by same. )
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To: Darksheare

Sounds painful.


5 posted on 03/10/2021 3:26:29 PM PST by crosdaddy
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To: MtnClimber

California Dreamin’ bump


6 posted on 03/10/2021 3:27:35 PM PST by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion, or satire. Or both.)
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To: crosdaddy

Genocidal ammonia based bugs, yes.
Quite painful.
Elite Dangerous is a fun game, some nebula can be wandered through.


7 posted on 03/10/2021 3:32:09 PM PST by Darksheare (Those who support liberal "Republicans" summarily support every action by same. )
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To: BenLurkin

Heh! My thoughts exactly. :-)

Don’t see Cass Elliott and a ham sandwich, though ...


8 posted on 03/10/2021 4:11:45 PM PST by AFB-XYZ (Stand up, or bend over)
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To: AFB-XYZ

I hope a grand jury indicted that sandwich for murder.


9 posted on 03/10/2021 4:48:12 PM PST by rfp1234 (Caveat Emperor: Comitii asinorum atque rhinocerorum delendi sunt.)
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To: MtnClimber

Hmmmm Bacon!


10 posted on 03/10/2021 5:01:15 PM PST by Conan the Librarian
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To: AFB-XYZ
This is the astrophysisist joke under the Explanation hot link under "long lost" electron:

The Hydrogen Atom's Lament

A hydrogen atom and a helium atom go into a bar. The hydrogen atom is clearly upset and moans, "I've lost my electron, my only electron." The concerned helium atom says, "Just calm down now ... are you sure you've lost it?"

The hydrogen atom replies, "Yes, I'm positive!"

(Later, a neutron walks in to the same bar. He sits down and says to the bar tender, "Hey, how much for a beer?" The bar tender looks at him and says, "For you, no charge!")

11 posted on 03/10/2021 5:17:36 PM PST by MtnClimber (For photos of Color ado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: rfp1234; MtnClimber

Stop it, yer both killin’ me! LOL! :-)


12 posted on 03/10/2021 5:27:35 PM PST by AFB-XYZ (Stand up, or bend over)
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To: MtnClimber

Is it full of Mexicans?...............


13 posted on 03/11/2021 5:30:41 AM PST by Red Badger ("We've always been at war with Climate Change, Winston."..............................)
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To: Red Badger
Is it full of Mexicans?...............

Yes. And the next earthquake could cause it to be part of the Pacific Ocean Nebula.

14 posted on 03/11/2021 5:49:49 AM PST by MtnClimber (For photos of Color ado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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