Astronomy Picture of the Day
    


NGC 7023: The Iris Nebula
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NGC 7023: The Iris Nebula
Credit & Copyright: Brian Lula
Explanation: Like delicate cosmic petals, these clouds of interstellar dust and gas have blossomed 1,300 light-years away in the fertile star fields of the constellation Cepheus. Sometimes called the Iris Nebula and dutifully cataloged as NGC 7023, this is not the only nebula in the sky to evoke the imagery of flowers. Still, the beautiful digital image shows off the Iris Nebula's range of colors and symmetries in impressive detail. Nebular material is seen to surround a massive, hot, young star, still in its formative years. The telltale reddish glow of atomic hydrogen gas energized by the star's invisible but intense ultraviolet light flanks the bright central region. Yet the dominant color of the nebula is blue, characteristic of dust grains reflecting starlight. Dark, obscuring clouds of dust and cold molecular gas are also present and can lead the eye to see other convoluted and fantastic shapes. Infrared observations indicate that this nebula may contain complex carbon molecules known as PAHs. As shown here, the Iris Nebula is about 6 light-years across.

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Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (USRA)
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NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
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& Michigan Tech. U.

Based on Astronomy Picture Of the Day

Publications with keywords: reflection nebula - emission nebula - dark nebula - NGC 7023
Publications with words: reflection nebula - emission nebula - dark nebula - NGC 7023
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