大象、蝙蝠与乌贼

2021年7月23日

Elephant, Bat, and Squid
Image Credit & Copyright: Patrick Hsieh

Explanation: Sprawling emission nebulae IC 1396 and Sh2-129 mix glowing interstellar gas and dark dust clouds in this 10 degree wide field of view toward the northern constellation Cepheus the King. Energized by its bluish 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 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.

Tomorrow’s picture: at the edge of space

大象、蝙蝠与乌贼
影像提供与版权: Patrick Hsieh

说明: 在这幅远眺北天仙王座方向的10度宽视野影像里，有辉光星际气体和黝黑尘埃云纠缠交错的庞大发射星云IC 1396和SH2-129。其中，位在3,000光年远处，受泛蓝中心星激发的IC 1396（左），跨幅约有数百光年。此星云有些特别有趣的黝黑云形，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，距离相近的Sh2-129之亮结及后掠的发射脊，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。 （Elephant’s Trunk 象鼻星云; Flying Bat Nebula 飞蝠星云; Giant Squid Nebula 乌贼星云）

明日的图片: at the edge of space