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Астронет: Астрономическая картинка дня Комплекс NGC 6914 http://variable-stars.ru/db/msg/1435509/eng |
Credit & Copyright: Ivan Eder
Explanation:
A study in contrasts,
this
colorful skyscape features
stars, dust, and glowing gas
in the vicinity of NGC 6914.
The complex
of reflection nebulae lies some 6,000 light-years away,
toward the high-flying northern constellation
Cygnus and the plane of our
Milky Way Galaxy.
Obscuring interstellar dust clouds appear in
silhouette while reddish hydrogen
emission
nebulae, along with the
dusty blue reflection
nebulae, fill the
cosmic canvas.
Ultraviolet radiation from the massive, hot, young stars of the
extensive
Cygnus OB2
association ionize the region's atomic
hydrogen gas, producing
the characteristic red glow as protons and electrons recombine.
Embedded Cygnus OB2 stars also provide the
blue starlight strongly reflected by the dust clouds.
The nearly 1 degree wide telescopic field of view spans
about 100 light-years at the estimated distance of NGC 6914.
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.