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Credit & Copyright: Anglo-Australian Telescope
Board
Explanation:
Unspeakable beauty and unimaginable bedlam
can be found together in the
Trifid Nebula. Also known as M20, this
photogenic nebula is visible with good binoculars
in the constellation of Sagittarius. The
energetic processes
of star formation create not
only the colors but the chaos.
The red-glowing gas results from high-energy
light striking interstellar hydrogen gas. The dark
dust filaments that lace
M20 were created in the atmospheres of cool
giant stars and in the
debris from supernovae
explosions. Which
bright young star
lights up the blue
reflection nebula
is still being investigated. The light from
M20 we see today left perhaps 3000 years ago.
Light takes about 50 years to cross
M20.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: reflection nebula - emission nebula
Publications with words: reflection nebula - emission nebula
See also: