探索触须星系

探索触须星系

ByNASA中文

2022年3月31日 Exploring the Antennae Image Credit & Copyright: Dietmar Hager, Eric Benson Explanation: Some 60 million light-years away in the southerly constellation Corvus, two large galaxies are colliding. Stars in the two galaxies, cataloged as NGC 4038 and NGC 4039, very rarely collide in the course of the ponderous cataclysm that lasts for hundreds of millions of years. But the galaxies’ large clouds of molecular gas and dust often do, triggering furious episodes of star formation near the center of the cosmic wreckage. Spanning over 500 thousand light-years, this stunning view also reveals new star clusters and matter flung far from the scene of the accident by gravitational tidal forces. The remarkably sharp ground-based image, an accumulation of 88 hours of exposure captured during 2012-2021,…

蝘蜓I分子云

蝘蜓I分子云

ByNASA中文

2022年2月17日 Chamaeleon I Molecular Cloud Image Credit & Copyright: Acquisition: Stas Volskiy (Chilescope.com), Processing: Robert Eder Explanation: Dark markings and bright nebulae in this telescopic southern sky view are telltale signs of young stars and active star formation. They lie a mere 650 light-years away, at the boundary of the local bubble and the Chamaeleon molecular cloud complex. Regions with young stars identified as dusty reflection nebulae from the 1946 Cederblad catalog include the C-shaped Ced 110 just above and left of center, and bluish Ced 111 below it. Also a standout in the frame, the orange tinted V-shape of the Chamaeleon Infrared Nebula (Cha IRN) was carved by material streaming from a newly formed low-mass star. The well-composed image spans 1.5 degrees. That’s about…

猎户座星云之南

猎户座星云之南

ByNASA中文

2022年1月27日 South of Orion Image Credit & Copyright: Vikas Chander Explanation: South of the large star-forming region known as the Orion Nebula, lies bright blue reflection nebula NGC 1999. At the edge of the Orion molecular cloud complex some 1,500 light-years distant, NGC 1999’s illumination is provided by the embedded variable star V380 Orionis. The nebula is marked with a dark sideways T-shape at center right in this telescopic vista that spans about two full moons on the sky. Its dark shape was once assumed to be an obscuring dust cloud seen in silhouette. But infrared data suggest the shape is likely a hole blown through the nebula itself by energetic young stars. In fact, this region abounds with energetic young stars producing jets and…

黝黑的仙王座海马星云

黝黑的仙王座海马星云

ByNASA中文

2021年11月05日 The Dark Seahorse in Cepheus Image Credit & Copyright: Valerio Avitabile Explanation: Light-years across, this suggestive shape known as the Seahorse Nebula appears in silhouette against a rich, luminous background of stars. Seen toward the royal northern constellation of Cepheus, the dusty, obscuring clouds are part of a Milky Way molecular cloud some 1,200 light-years distant. It is also listed as Barnard 150 (B150), one of 182 dark markings of the sky cataloged in the early 20th century by astronomer E. E. Barnard. Packs of low mass stars are forming within, but their collapsing cores are only visible at long infrared wavelengths. Still, the colorful stars of Cepheus add to this pretty, galactic skyscape. Tomorrow’s picture: light-weekend 黝黑的仙王座海马星云 影像提供与版权: Valerio Avitabile 说明: 这个长数光年，形状深具暗示性的天体，是以黝黑剪影之姿出现在仙王座明亮背景繁星前方的海马星云。这团位在北天仙王座方向的不透光尘埃云，为距离约1,200光年远的一团银河分子云之成员。在天文学家巴纳德于20世纪初编录的暗星云表里，编录号为巴纳德150（B150）的这团星云，是其中的182个暗星云之1。在其内，藏有处于形成阶段的成群小质量恒星，不过它们塌缩中的星核，只有在远红外线波段才可见。不论如何，视野内这些色彩缤纷的仙王座恒星，为这片美丽的银河星野增添了不少风采。 明日的图片:…

仙王火焰分子云的幽灵

仙王火焰分子云的幽灵

ByNASA中文

2021年10月29日 Haunting the Cepheus Flare Image Credit & Copyright: Leo Shatz Explanation: Spooky shapes seem to haunt this dusty expanse, drifting through the night in the royal constellation Cepheus. Of course, the shapes are cosmic dust clouds visible in dimly reflected starlight. Far from your own neighborhood, they lurk above the plane of the Milky Way at the edge of the Cepheus Flare molecular cloud complex some 1,200 light-years away. Over 2 light-years across and brighter than most of the other ghostly apparitions, vdB 141 or Sh2-136 is also known as the Ghost Nebula, seen at the right of the starry field of view. Inside the nebula are the telltale signs of dense cores collapsing in the early stages of star formation. With the eerie…

林茨暗星云1251

林茨暗星云1251

ByNASA中文

2021年9月20日 Lynds Dark Nebula 1251 Image Credit & Copyright: Cristiano Gualco Explanation: Stars are forming in Lynds Dark Nebula (LDN) 1251. About 1,000 light-years away and drifting above the plane of our Milky Way galaxy, the dusty molecular cloud is part of a complex of dark nebulae mapped toward the Cepheus flare region. Across the spectrum, astronomical explorations of the obscuring interstellar clouds reveal energetic shocks and outflows associated with newborn stars, including the telltale reddish glow from scattered Herbig-Haro objects hiding in the image. Distant background galaxies also lurk on the scene, almost buried behind the dusty expanse. This alluring view spans over two full moons on the sky, or 17 light-years at the estimated distance of LDN 1251. Tomorrow’s picture: sun spot hill…

探索触须星系

探索触须星系

ByNASA中文

2021年03月27日 Exploring the Antennae Image Credit & Copyright: Bernard Miller Explanation: Some 60 million light-years away in the southerly constellation Corvus, two large galaxies are colliding. Stars in the two galaxies, cataloged as NGC 4038 and NGC 4039, very rarely collide in the course of the ponderous cataclysm that lasts for hundreds of millions of years. But the galaxies’ large clouds of molecular gas and dust often do, triggering furious episodes of star formationi near the center of the cosmic wreckage. Spanning over 500 thousand light-years, this stunning view also reveals new star clusters and matter flung far from the scene of the accident by gravitational tidal forces. The remarkably sharp ground-based image includes narrowband data that highlights the characteristic red glow of atomic hydrogen…

英仙分子云的星尘

英仙分子云的星尘

ByNASA中文

2021年03月18日 Stardust in the Perseus Molecular Cloud Image Credit & Copyright: Kerry-Ann Lecky Hepburn, Stuart Heggie Explanation: Clouds of stardust drift through this deep skyscape, across the Perseus molecular cloud some 850 light-years away. Dusty nebulae reflecting light from embedded young stars stand out in the nearly 2 degree wide telescopic field of view. With a characteristic bluish color reflection nebula NGC 1333 is at center, vdB 13 at top right, with rare yellowish reflection nebula vdB 12 near the top of the frame. Stars are forming in the molecular cloud, though most are obscured at visible wavelengths by the pervasive dust. Still, hints of contrasting red emission from Herbig-Haro objects, the jets and shocked glowing gas emanating from recently formed stars, are evident in…

暗分子云巴纳德68

暗分子云巴纳德68

ByNASA中文

2020年11月22日 Dark Molecular Cloud Barnard 68 Image Credit: FORS Team, 8.2-meter VLT Antu, ESO Explanation: Where did all the stars go? What used to be considered a hole in the sky is now known to astronomers as a dark molecular cloud. Here, a high concentration of dust and molecular gas absorb practically all the visible light emitted from background stars. The eerily dark surroundings help make the interiors of molecular clouds some of the coldest and most isolated places in the universe. One of the most notable of these dark absorption nebulae is a cloud toward the constellation Ophiuchus known as Barnard 68, pictured here. That no stars are visible in the center indicates that Barnard 68 is relatively nearby, with measurements placing it about…