Astronomy Picture of the Day 4-24-02

NASA ^ | 4-24-02 | 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 April 24

The Trifid Nebula from AAO
Credit & Copyright: Anglo-Australian Observatory, Photograph by David Malin

Explanation: Unspeakable beauty and unimaginable bedlam can be found together in the Trifid Nebula. Also known as M20, this photogenic nebula is visible with good binoculars towards the constellation of Sagittarius. The energetic processes of star formation create not only the colors but the chaos. The red-glowing gas results from high-energy starlight striking interstellar hydrogen gas. The dark dust filaments that lace M20 were created in the atmospheres of cool giant stars and in the debris from supernovae explosions. Which bright young stars light up the blue reflection nebula is still being investigated. The light from M20 we see today left perhaps 3000 years ago, although the exact distance remains unknown. Light takes about 50 years to cross M20.

[petuniasevan]

This is one of the most beautiful sights in this galactic "neighborhood".
Trifid is easy to spot in the summer constellation Sagittarius, "above" (north of) the brighter Lagoon Nebula.
Even binoculars will do on a dark night.
But don't expect to see the intense colors only a time-exposure photo will show.

Wallpaper, anyone?

[petuniasevan]

Awesome APOD PING!

[leadpenny]

"Only" 3000 light years distant. Guess that makes it our neighbor in our Galaxy.

[petuniasevan]

For a star-forming nebula, yes, that's practically in our back yard.

The Milky Way is about 100,000 light years across, and it's 30,000 light years from here to the center.

[aomagrat]

Far Out!!!!

[sleavelessinseattle]

BTTT Triffid Nebula Ping!

[Joan912]

While I rarely understand the science and physics behind astronomy, I very much appreciate its awesome beauty. Wow.

[sleavelessinseattle]

I'm in the same condition. But I have discovered something which you may not have run across...it is a gathering of real astronomy enthusiasts which is geared toward sharing their toys with the unenlightened like you and I. Its called a Star Party. Most amateur astronomy clubs hold them at least once a year in a dark area. All the gear gets set up for 2 to three days and you can camp out there or just stay up one night and everybody lets you look through their telescopes! At the Table Mountain Star party that I started going to religiously about 4 years ago there are typically 200 or more REALLY BIG telescopes of various designs...You have to use a stepladder to get up to the eyepiece.

You can visit the link below to get a feel for the size of the event, but what you'll never deduce from looking at daylight photos is how thrilling it is to just walk around in total darkness with a red filtered flashlight and talk about the universe, with informed, happy, strangers...and then you get to the eyepiece and its really amazing...You don't get the color that these digital photos provide, but the structures are all there...A 32" reflector telescope that wouldn't fit in the back of a Pickup truck gives a great view of the Triffid, and you also get the feel for the motion of the earth...You have to constantly track this huge piece of machinery to counter the rotation of your platform(Terra Firma)...Its indescribable...go do it! Click Here for Table Mountain Star Party

[sleavelessinseattle]

Bad Link! Sorry!

CLICK HERE FOR TABLE MOUNTAIN STAR PARTY!

[patriciaruth]

Thanks. My husband has a daughter and grandson in Washington state. Maybe we'll come up during July and go to this party. He loves astronomy more than I do.

[sleavelessinseattle]

The thing that struck me about the people there is that you see a remarkably high percentage of PDA's (public displays of affection!) Its really a nice, smart, bunch of people. And the planning of the event is first rate...activities for kids, neat lectures with slides, Computer graphics demos, big raffle prizes given away... They have a Seattles Best Coffee booth there that goes all night long and a burger joint as well. out in the middle of nowhere. Whadryagonna do?