IC 5146: 茧状星云

2024年8月19日

IC 5146: The Cocoon Nebula
Image Credit & Copyright: Luis Romero Ventura

Explanation: Inside the Cocoon Nebula is a newly developing cluster of stars. Cataloged as IC 5146, the beautiful nebula is nearly 15 light-years wide. Soaring high in northern summer night skies, it’s located some 4,000 light years away toward the constellation of the Swan (Cygnus). Like other star forming regions, it stands out in red, glowing, hydrogen gas excited by young, hot stars, and dust-reflected starlight at the edge of an otherwise invisible molecular cloud. In fact, the bright star found near the center of this nebula is likely only a few hundred thousand years old, powering the nebular glow as it clears out a cavity in the molecular cloud’s star forming dust and gas. A 48-hour long integration resulted in this exceptionally deep color view tracing tantalizing features within and surrounding the dusty stellar nursery.

Tomorrow’s picture: ruins of supermoon

IC 5146: 茧状星云
影像提供与版权: Luis Romero Ventura

说明: 茧状星云内有个正在形成的星团。直径将近15光年、编录号为IC 5146的茧状星云，座落在北半球夏季夜空的天鹅座方向约4,000光年远之处。如同其他的恒星形成区一样，这个位在一团不可见分子云边缘的星云，其内的氢气因受到炽热年轻恒星激发而发出泛红的辉光，而部分尘埃则因为反射星光而呈蓝色。事实上，位在星云中心附近、可能只有数百万年稚龄的亮星，除了激发星云发光之外，也在孕育恒星的分子云尘埃和气体里清出一个空穴。这幅总曝光时间长达48小时的极深空彩色影像，清楚呈现了这个满是尘埃的恒星形成区内部与周围的迷人特征结构。

明日的图片: ruins of supermoon