SH2 136: A Spooky Nebula
Explanation:
The dark nebula SH2-136 appears to be celebrating
Halloween all of the time.
The complex process of
star formation create
dust clouds of many
shapes and
sizes -- it is
human perception
that might identify a
ghoulish creature, on the right of the
above image, chasing humans.
Halloween's modern celebration retains historic roots in dressing to
scare away the spirits of the dead.
Since the fifth century BC,
Halloween has been celebrated as a
cross-quarter day, a day halfway between an
equinox (equal day / equal night) and a
solstice
(minimum day / maximum night in the northern hemisphere).
With our modern calendar, however, the real
cross-quarter day will
occur next week. Another cross-quarter day is
Groundhog Day and
Walpurgis Night.
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.
