NGC 1893与IC 410的蝌蚪

2024年2月2日

NGC 1893 and the Tadpoles of IC 410
Image Credit & Copyright: Sander de Jong

Explanation: This cosmic view shows off an otherwise faint emission nebula IC 410, captured under clear Netherlands skies with telescope and narrowband filters. Above and right of center you can spot two remarkable inhabitants of the interstellar pond of gas and dust, known as the tadpoles of IC 410. Partly obscured by foreground dust, the nebula itself surrounds NGC 1893, a young galactic cluster of stars. Formed in the interstellar cloud a mere 4 million years ago, the intensely hot, bright cluster stars energize the glowing gas. Globules composed of denser cooler gas and dust, the tadpoles are around 10 light-years long and are likely sites of ongoing star formation. Sculpted by stellar winds and radiation their heads are outlined by bright ridges of ionized gas while their tails trail away from the cluster’s central young stars. IC 410 and embedded NGC 1893 lie some 10,000 light-years away, toward the nebula-rich constellation Auriga.

Tomorrow’s picture: light-weekend

NGC 1893与IC 410的蝌蚪
影像提供与版权: Sander de Jong

说明: 这张摄于荷兰清朗天空下的窄波段望远镜影像，呈现极为昏暗的发射星云IC 410。在这个星际尘埃与气体池塘的中右方，可见到名为IC 410″蝌蚪”的2团云气。部分受到前景尘埃遮掩的IC 410，本身环拱着编录号为NGC 1893的年轻银河星团。而刚在4百万年前形成于星际云内的这群极端炽热、明亮的年轻恒星，则激发周围的云气发出辉光。由较冷较密的气体和尘埃所组成的蝌蚪，长度约有10光年，内部可能正在形成恒星。受到了星团恒星风和辐射的雕塑，它们头部的边缘镶着明亮的电离气脊，而尾巴则指离星团的中心区。IC 410位于星云密布的御夫座方向，距离我们约有10,000光年远。

明日的图片: light-weekend