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Credit & Copyright: Bill Snyder
(Bill
Snyder Photography)
Explanation:
This
colorful skyscape features the dusty
Sharpless
catalog emission region
Sh2-155,
the Cave Nebula.
In the composite image, data taken through
narrowband filters tracks
the glow of ionized sulfur, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms in
red, green, and blue hues.
About 2,400 light-years away, the scene lies
along the plane of our Milky Way Galaxy
toward the royal northern constellation
of Cepheus.
Astronomical explorations of the region reveal that it has
formed at the boundary of the massive Cepheus B molecular cloud
and the hot, young stars of the Cepheus OB 3
association.
The bright rim of
ionized
interstellar gas is energized by
radiation from the hot stars, dominated
by the bright star just above picture center.
Radiation driven
ionization fronts are likely triggering collapsing cores
and new star formation within.
Appropriately sized for a stellar nursery, the cosmic cave is
over 10 light-years across.
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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: HII region - molecular cloud
Publications with words: HII region - molecular cloud
See also: