The Rosette Nebula
Image Credit & Copyright: Evangelos Souglakos
Explanation: Would the
Rosette Nebula by any other
name look as sweet? The bland
New General Catalog designation of
NGC 2237 doesn't appear to diminish the appearance of
this flowery
emission nebula. Inside the nebula lies an
open cluster of bright young stars designated
NGC 2244. These stars
formed about four million years ago from the nebular material and their
stellar winds are clearing a hole in the nebula's center, insulated by a layer of
dust and hot gas.
Ultraviolet light from the hot cluster stars causes the surrounding nebula to
glow. The
Rosette Nebula spans about 100
light-years across, lies
about 5000 light-years away, and can be seen with a small telescope towards the
constellation of the Unicorn (
Monoceros).
No comments:
Post a Comment