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Credit & Copyright: David Moulton
Explanation:
Is this a painting or a photograph?
In this celestial
abstract art
composed with a cosmic brush, dusty nebula
NGC 2170,
also known as the
Angel Nebula, shines just above the image center.
Reflecting the light of nearby hot stars,
NGC 2170 is joined
by other bluish reflection nebulae, a
red emission region, many dark
absorption nebulae,
and a backdrop of
colorful stars.
Like the common household items that
abstract painters
often choose for their subjects, the clouds of gas, dust, and hot stars
featured here are also commonly found in a setting like this one --
a massive, star-forming molecular cloud in the constellation of the
Unicorn (Monoceros).
The giant
molecular cloud,
Mon R2,
is impressively close, estimated
to be only 2,400
light-years or so away.
At that distance, this
canvas would be over 60 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: molecular cloud
Publications with words: molecular cloud
See also: