Nebula Nova Cygni Turns On
Explanation:
Old photographs show no evidence of the above nebula.
In 1992, a
white dwarf star toward the
constellation of
Cygnus blew off its outer layers in a classical
nova explosion: an event called
Nova Cygni 1992.
Light flooded the local
interstellar neighborhood, illuminated this existing gas cloud,
excited the existing
hydrogen,
and hence caused the red emission.
The only gas actually expelled by the
nova can be seen as a small red ball just above the
photograph's center.
Eventually, light from the
nova shell will fade, and this nebula will again become invisible.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
