The Rosette Nebula is a large, circular H II region located near one end of a giant molecular cloud in the Monoceros region of the Milky Way Galaxy. The open cluster NGC 2244 is closely associated with the nebulosity, the stars of the cluster having been formed from the nebula's matter.
The complex has the following NGC designations:
- NGC 2237 - Part of the nebulous region (Usually used to denote whole nebula)
- NGC 2238 - Part of the nebulous region
- NGC 2239 - Part of the nebulous region (Discovered by John Herschel)
- NGC 2244 - The open cluster within the nebula (Discovered by John Flamsteed in 1690)
- NGC 2246 - Part of the nebulous region
The cluster and nebula lie at a distance of some 5,200 light years from Earth (although estimates of the distance vary considerably) and measure roughly 130 light years in diameter. The radiation from the young stars excite the atoms in the nebula, causing them to emit...
The Rosette Nebula is a large, circular H II region located near one end of a giant molecular cloud in the Monoceros region of the Milky Way Galaxy. The open cluster NGC 2244 is closely associated with the nebulosity, the stars of the cluster having been formed from the nebula's matter.
The complex has the following NGC designations:
- NGC 2237 - Part of the nebulous region (Usually used to denote whole nebula)
- NGC 2238 - Part of the nebulous region
- NGC 2239 - Part of the nebulous region (Discovered by John Herschel)
- NGC 2244 - The open cluster within the nebula (Discovered by John Flamsteed in 1690)
- NGC 2246 - Part of the nebulous region
The cluster and nebula lie at a distance of some 5,200 light years from Earth (although estimates of the distance vary considerably) and measure roughly 130 light years in diameter. The radiation from the young stars excite the atoms in the nebula, causing them to emit radiation themselves producing the emission nebula we see. The mass of the nebula is estimated to be around 10,000 solar masses.
It is believed that stellar winds from a group of O and B stars are exerting pressure on interstellar clouds to cause compression, followed by star formation in the nebula. This star formation is currently still ongoing.
A survey of the nebula with the Chandra X-ray Observatory in 2001 has revealed the presence of very hot, young stars at the core of the Rosette Nebula. These stars have heated the surrounding gas to a temperature in the order of 6 million kelvins causing them to emit copious amounts of X-rays.
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia)
The Andromeda Galaxy, also known as Messier 31, M31, or NGC 224; often referred to as the Great Andromeda Nebula in older texts) is a spiral galaxy approximately 2.5 million light-years away in the constellation Andromeda. It is the nearest spiral galaxy to our own, the Milky Way. As it is visible as a faint smudge on a moonless night, it is one of the farthest objects visible to the naked eye, and can be seen even from urban areas with binoculars. It is named after the princess Andromeda in Greek mythology. Andromeda is the largest galaxy of the Local Group, which consists of the Andromeda Galaxy, the Milky Way Galaxy, the Triangulum Galaxy, and about 30 other smaller galaxies. Although the largest, it may not be the most massive, as recent findings suggest that the Milky Way contains more dark matter and may be the most massive in the grouping. The 2006 observations by the Spitzer Space Telescope revealed that M31 contains one trillion (1012) stars, greatly exceeding the number of stars in our own...
The Andromeda Galaxy, also known as Messier 31, M31, or NGC 224; often referred to as the Great Andromeda Nebula in older texts) is a spiral galaxy approximately 2.5 million light-years away in the constellation Andromeda. It is the nearest spiral galaxy to our own, the Milky Way. As it is visible as a faint smudge on a moonless night, it is one of the farthest objects visible to the naked eye, and can be seen even from urban areas with binoculars. It is named after the princess Andromeda in Greek mythology. Andromeda is the largest galaxy of the Local Group, which consists of the Andromeda Galaxy, the Milky Way Galaxy, the Triangulum Galaxy, and about 30 other smaller galaxies. Although the largest, it may not be the most massive, as recent findings suggest that the Milky Way contains more dark matter and may be the most massive in the grouping. The 2006 observations by the Spitzer Space Telescope revealed that M31 contains one trillion (1012) stars, greatly exceeding the number of stars in our own galaxy. While the 2006 estimates put the mass of the Milky Way to be ~80% of the mass of Andromeda, which is estimated to be 7.1 × 1011 solar masses, a 2009 study concluded that Andromeda and the Milky Way are about equal in mass.
At an apparent magnitude of 4.4, the Andromeda Galaxy is notable for being one of the brightest Messier objects, making it easily visible to the naked eye even when viewed from areas with moderate light pollution. Although it appears more than six times as wide as the full moon when photographed through a larger telescope, only the brighter central region is visible with the naked eye.
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia)
Posted by Steven Mohr on Wed Nov 18 06:57:33 2009
The Trifid Nebula (also known as Messier 20 and NGC 6514) is an H II region located in Sagittarius. The nebula's name means "divided into three lobes". The object is a remarkable collection of open cluster, emission nebula (the lower, red portion), reflection nebula (the upper, blue portion) and dark nebula (the septation within the emission nebula causing the trifid appearance, also designated Barnard 85).
Being a bright and colourful object, the Trifid Nebula is a perennial favourite of visual and imaging amateur astronomers using telescopes of all sizes. The combination of star cluster, emission nebula, reflection nebula, and dark nebula makes it a beautiful deep sky object and photographic target.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia)
Posted by Steven Mohr on Wed Nov 18 06:55:23 2009
The Omega Nebula (also known as the Swan Nebula, Messier 17 or NGC 6618) is an H II region in the constellation Sagittarius. It was discovered by Philippe Loys de Chéseaux in 1745. Charles Messier catalogued it in 1764. It is located in the rich starfields of the Sagittarius area of the Milky Way. Earth's distance to the Omega Nebula is between 5,000 and 6,000 light-years and it spans some 15 light-years in diameter. The cloud of interstellar matter of which this nebula is a part is roughly 40 light-years in diameter. The total mass of the Omega Nebula is an estimated 800 solar masses.
A cluster of 35 stars lies embedded in the nebulosity and it is these hot, young stars' radiation that excites the gases in the nebula to shine.
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia)
The Horsehead Nebula (also known as Barnard 33' in bright nebula IC 434) is a dark nebula in the Orion constellation. The nebula is located just below Alnitak, the easternmost star of Orion's Belt, and is part of the much larger Orion Molecular Cloud Complex. It is approximately 1,500 light years from Earth, and is approximately 3.5 light years wide.
One of the most identifiable nebulae in the sky, it is part of a swirling cloud of dark dust and gases, shaped like a horse's head (hence its name). Also known as Barnard 33, the unusual shape was first discovered in 1888 by Mrs. Williamina Fleming on photographic plate B2312 taken at the Harvard College Observatory.
The red glow originates from hydrogen gas predominantly behind the nebula, ionized by the nearby bright star Sigma Orionis. The darkness of the Horsehead is caused mostly by thick dust, although the lower part of the Horsehead's neck casts a shadow to the left. Streams of gas leaving the nebula are funneled by a strong...
The Horsehead Nebula (also known as Barnard 33' in bright nebula IC 434) is a dark nebula in the Orion constellation. The nebula is located just below Alnitak, the easternmost star of Orion's Belt, and is part of the much larger Orion Molecular Cloud Complex. It is approximately 1,500 light years from Earth, and is approximately 3.5 light years wide.
One of the most identifiable nebulae in the sky, it is part of a swirling cloud of dark dust and gases, shaped like a horse's head (hence its name). Also known as Barnard 33, the unusual shape was first discovered in 1888 by Mrs. Williamina Fleming on photographic plate B2312 taken at the Harvard College Observatory.
The red glow originates from hydrogen gas predominantly behind the nebula, ionized by the nearby bright star Sigma Orionis. The darkness of the Horsehead is caused mostly by thick dust, although the lower part of the Horsehead's neck casts a shadow to the left. Streams of gas leaving the nebula are funneled by a strong magnetic field. Bright spots in the Horsehead Nebula's base are young stars just in the process of forming.
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
The Flame Nebula, designated as NGC 2024, is in the Constellation Orion. It is about 900 to 1,500 light-years away.
The bright star Alnitak (ζ Ori), the easternmost star in the Belt of Orion, shines energetic ultraviolet light into the Flame and this knocks electrons away from the great clouds of hydrogen gas that reside there. Much of the glow results when the electrons and ionized hydrogen recombine. Additional dark gas and dust lies in front of the bright part of the nebula and this is what causes the dark network that appears in the centre of the glowing gas. The Flame Nebula is part of the Orion Molecular Cloud Complex, a star-forming region that includes the famous Horsehead Nebula.
The Trifid Nebula (also known as Messier 20 and NGC 6514) is an H II region located in Sagittarius. The nebula's name means "divided into three lobes". The object is a remarkable collection of open cluster, emission nebula (the lower, red portion), reflection nebula (the upper, blue portion) and dark nebula (the septation within the emission nebula causing the trifid appearance, also designated Barnard 85).
Being a bright and colourful object, the Trifid Nebula is a perennial favourite of visual and imaging amateur astronomers using telescopes of all sizes. The combination of star cluster, emission nebula, reflection nebula, and dark nebula makes it a beautiful deep sky object and photographic target.
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia)
The Lagoon Nebula (also known as Messier Object 8 (M8) and NGC 6523) is a giant interstellar cloud, classified as an emission nebula and H II region, in the constellation Sagittarius. At an estimated distance of 4,100 light-years, the Lagoon...
The Trifid Nebula (also known as Messier 20 and NGC 6514) is an H II region located in Sagittarius. The nebula's name means "divided into three lobes". The object is a remarkable collection of open cluster, emission nebula (the lower, red portion), reflection nebula (the upper, blue portion) and dark nebula (the septation within the emission nebula causing the trifid appearance, also designated Barnard 85).
Being a bright and colourful object, the Trifid Nebula is a perennial favourite of visual and imaging amateur astronomers using telescopes of all sizes. The combination of star cluster, emission nebula, reflection nebula, and dark nebula makes it a beautiful deep sky object and photographic target.
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia)
The Lagoon Nebula (also known as Messier Object 8 (M8) and NGC 6523) is a giant interstellar cloud, classified as an emission nebula and H II region, in the constellation Sagittarius. At an estimated distance of 4,100 light-years, the Lagoon is one of only two star-forming nebulae faintly visible to the naked eye from mid-northern latitudes. In binoculars, the Lagoon is a distinct oval cloudlike patch with a definite core, like a pale celestial flower. The nebula has a fragile star cluster superimposed on it, making this one of the leading celestial sights of summer night skies.
In 2006 the first four Herbig-Haro objects were detected in the hourglass region of M8 also including HH 870. This provides the first direct evidence of active star formation by accretion in M8.
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia)
The Rosette Nebula is a large, circular H II region located near one end of a giant molecular cloud in the Monoceros region of the Milky Way Galaxy. The open cluster NGC 2244 is closely associated with the nebulosity, the stars of the cluster having been formed from the nebula's matter.
The complex has the following NGC designations:
- NGC 2237 - Part of the nebulous region (Usually used to denote whole nebula)
- NGC 2238 - Part of the nebulous region
- NGC 2239 - Part of the nebulous region (Discovered by John Herschel)
- NGC 2244 - The open cluster within the nebula (Discovered by John Flamsteed in 1690)
- NGC 2246 - Part of the nebulous region
The cluster and nebula lie at a distance of some 5,200 light years from Earth (although estimates of the distance vary considerably) and measure roughly 130 light years in diameter. The radiation from the young stars excite the atoms in the nebula, causing them to emit...
The Rosette Nebula is a large, circular H II region located near one end of a giant molecular cloud in the Monoceros region of the Milky Way Galaxy. The open cluster NGC 2244 is closely associated with the nebulosity, the stars of the cluster having been formed from the nebula's matter.
The complex has the following NGC designations:
- NGC 2237 - Part of the nebulous region (Usually used to denote whole nebula)
- NGC 2238 - Part of the nebulous region
- NGC 2239 - Part of the nebulous region (Discovered by John Herschel)
- NGC 2244 - The open cluster within the nebula (Discovered by John Flamsteed in 1690)
- NGC 2246 - Part of the nebulous region
The cluster and nebula lie at a distance of some 5,200 light years from Earth (although estimates of the distance vary considerably) and measure roughly 130 light years in diameter. The radiation from the young stars excite the atoms in the nebula, causing them to emit radiation themselves producing the emission nebula we see. The mass of the nebula is estimated to be around 10,000 solar masses.
It is believed that stellar winds from a group of O and B stars are exerting pressure on interstellar clouds to cause compression, followed by star formation in the nebula. This star formation is currently still ongoing.
A survey of the nebula with the Chandra X-ray Observatory in 2001 has revealed the presence of very hot, young stars at the core of the Rosette Nebula. These stars have heated the surrounding gas to a temperature in the order of 6 million kelvins causing them to emit copious amounts of X-rays.
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia)
Posted by Steven Mohr on Sun Nov 22 14:37:00 2009