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Credit & Copyright: Anglo-Australian Observatory, Photograph by
David Malin
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 towards 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 starlight 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 stars light up the blue
reflection nebula is still
being investigated.
The light from
M20 we see today left perhaps 3000 years ago,
although the exact distance remains unknown.
Light takes about 50 years to cross
M20.
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& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Trifid nebula - M 20 - emission nebula - reflection nebula
Publications with words: Trifid nebula - M 20 - emission nebula - reflection nebula
See also: