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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 NGC 1333.
The chaotic environment may be similar to one in which our own Sun
formed over 4.5 billion years ago.
At the estimated distance of the Perseus molecular cloud,
this cosmic scene would span about 40 light-years.
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Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Perseus - molecular cloud
Publications with words: Perseus - molecular cloud
See also: