礁湖星云中央附近的影像

2019 November 4

Near the Center of the Lagoon Nebula
Image Credit & Copyright: Zhuoqun Wu, Chilescope

Explanation: Stars are battling gas and dust in the Lagoon Nebula but the photographers are winning. Also known as M8, this photogenic nebula is visible even without binoculars towards the constellation of the Archer (Sagittarius). The energetic processes of star formation create not only the colors but the chaos. The glowing gas results from high-energy starlight striking interstellar hydrogen gas and trace amounts of sulfur, and oxygen gases. The dark dust filaments that lace M8 were created in the atmospheres of cool giant stars and in the debris from supernovae explosions. The light from M8 we see today left about 5,000 years ago. Light takes about 50 years to cross this section of M8.

礁湖星云中央附近的影像
影像来源与版权：Zhuoqun Wu, Chilescope

说明：恒星正在与礁湖星云内的气体和尘埃作斗争，但摄影师获胜了。这个上镜的星云也被称为M8，我们甚至不用双筒望远镜就能在人马座方向看到它。恒星形成的活跃过程不仅产生了多样的色彩，而且还引起了混乱。这些炽热气体是由高能星光激发星际间的氢气，微量的硫和氧气产生的。M8周围的黑暗丝状尘埃带形成于冰冷巨星的大气层和超新星爆炸的残骸中。今天我们看到来自M8的辉光则是它在大约5000年前发出的。而光需要用时约50年才能穿越M8的这片区域。