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Credit & Copyright: AndrÈ van der Hoeven
Explanation:
Stars can form in colorful surroundings.
Featured here is a star forming region rich in glowing gas and dark dust toward
the constellation of the Swan (Cygnus), near the bright star Sadr.
This region,
which spans about 50 light years, is part of the
Gamma Cygni nebula which lies about 1,800 light years
distant.
Toward the right of
the image is Barnard 344, a dark and twisted dust cloud rich in cool molecular
gas.
A dramatic wall of dust and red-glowing
hydrogen gas forms a line down the
picture center.
While the glowing red gas is indicative of small
emission nebulas, the blue tinted areas are
reflection nebulas --
starlight reflecting from usually dark dust grains.
The Gamma Cygni nebula
will likely not last the next billion years, as most of the bright young
stars will
explode,
most of the dust will be destroyed,
and most of the gas will drift away.
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& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: nebula - star formation
Publications with words: nebula - star formation
See also: