Astronomy Picture of the Day 7-03-02

NASA ^ | 7-03-02 | 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 July 3

Interstellar Dust Bunnies of NGC 891
Credit & Copyright: Jean-Charles Cuillandre (CFHT), Hawaiian Starlight, CFHT

Explanation: What is going on in NGC 891? This galaxy appeared previously to be very similar to our own Milky Way Galaxy: a spiral galaxy seen nearly edge-on. However, recent high-resolution images of NGC 891's dust show unusual filamentary patterns extending well away from its Galactic disk. This interstellar dust was probably thrown out of the galactic disk toward the halo by stellar supernovae explosions. Because dust is so fragile, its appearance after surviving disk expulsion can be very telling. Newly discovered phenomena, however, sometimes appear so complex that more questions are raised than are answered.

[petuniasevan]

Ahh...science...answer (maybe) one question, raise a dozen more...

[petuniasevan]

APOD PING!

[DallasGal]

Amazing universe we have...

[foolish-one]

Thank you again. Have a great fourth. Enjoy the dazzling celestial displays - within our own atmosphere and beyond!!

[sleavelessinseattle]

Maybe I need to have some lunch...that looks like a snickerdoodle to me! Great Picture!

[MeekOneGOP]

Amazing picture. Thanks for the ping.

I took Geology for my Lab Science requirements in college. I came ever so close to taking astronomy!

[SpookBrat]

LOL!!

Hey stranger!

[SpookBrat]

Thanks for the ping Meek. I took lots of Biology and Anatomy. I should have taken something more fun like Astronomy. Maybe someday.

[MeekOneGOP]

Yeah. My brother just finished an Astronomy Class at his local college in the Rancho Cordova/Sacramento California area. He loved it!

[sistergoldenhair]

Another great picture.
Thanks.

[MozartLover]

Beautiful. Thank you.

[bzrd]

"The heavens declare the Glory of His Name".

Brian.

[Jeff Chandler]

that looks like a snickerdoodle to me!

More like an oyster.

[sleavelessinseattle]

Hey stranger!

Stranger than what? fiction? Democratic policy making? ABC's Decision to Keep Ted Koppel? just where DO I stand with you lady SB? When the going gets tough, the wierd turn PRO! LOL...Hope your Fourth is just this side of unsafely fun for all! I startled a cougar off a goat he killed two days ago at a buddy's farm, and all I had was a piece of pipe to press the issue so I'm VERY careful tonight...all my Day's luck was used up getting the cougar to decide to concede his buffet of mutton! Broad Daylight! Things must be tight in the Cascades...plus all the new homesteaders were touching off canon's last night...guess Felis's Clock could be off from that!