仙王座的宇宙动物园

2023年8月17日

A Cosmic Zoo in Cepheus
Image Credit & Copyright: Yann Sainty

Explanation: Sprawling emission nebulae IC 1396 and Sh2-129 mix glowing interstellar gas and dark dust clouds in this nearly 12 degree wide field of view toward the northern constellation Cepheus the King. Energized by its central star IC 1396 (left), is hundreds of light-years across and some 3,000 light-years distant. The nebula’s intriguing dark shapes include a winding dark cloud popularly known as the Elephant’s Trunk below and right of center. Tens of light-years long, it holds the raw material for star formation and is known to hide protostars within. Located a similar distance from planet Earth, the bright knots and swept back ridges of emission of Sh2-129 on the right suggest its popular name, the Flying Bat Nebula. Within the Flying Bat, the most recently recognized addition to this royal cosmic zoo is the faint bluish emission from Ou4, the Giant Squid Nebula. Near the lower right edge of the frame, the suggestive dark marking on the sky cataloged as Barnard 150 is also known as the dark Seahorse Nebula.

Notable submissions to APOD: Perseids Meteor Shower 2023

Tomorrow’s picture: northern Pluto

仙王座的宇宙动物园
影像提供与版权: Yann Sainty

说明: 在这片远眺北天仙王座方向、宽将近12度的视野里，有明亮星际气体和黝黑尘埃云纠缠交错的广袤发射星云IC 1396和SH2-129。其中，位于约3,000光年远处、受泛蓝中心星激发的IC 1396（左），其跨幅约为数百光年。在此星云内部特别有趣的黝黑云形之中，包括影像中右下方有”象鼻“之称，长数十光年，拥有大量造星物质，已有原恒星形成于其内的蜿蜒暗星云。其右侧，距离相当的Sh2-129之明亮气体结及后掠的发射脊，为它博得飞蝠星云的令名。飞蝠星云之内，在不久前才辨认出的昏暗泛蓝发射星云Ou4，则替仙王座的宇宙动物园，增添了名为大乌贼星云的新成员。在视野的右下缘附近，则有外观具暗示性、编绿号为巴纳德150的黝黑海马星云。 （Elephant’s Trunk 象鼻星云; Flying Bat Nebula 飞蝠星云; Giant Squid Nebula 乌贼星云; Seahorse Nebula 海马星云） (left)

向APOD提交的值得注意的作品：2023年英仙座流星雨

明日的图片: northern Pluto