Anne’s Image of the Day: The Dragonfish Nebula
April 5, 2014
The Dragonfish Nebula, an emission nebula in the Crux
Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Toronto
The Dragonfish Nebula, named for its resemblance to a terrifyingly toothy deep-sea fish on infrared images, is an emission nebula and star-forming region of about of 450 light-years across, located some 30,000 light-years away from Earth in the southern constellation of the Crux (but better known for the name of its cross-shaped asterism: the Southern Cross).
Due to the distance and location of this massive nebula, there’s a vast amount of interstellar material (such as gas and dust) between us and the Dragonfish, absorbing its light, so in optical light it’s essentially invisible. But infrared light can pierce that fog, and the image above was taken using NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope, designed to look in the infrared.
In 2010 the first hint of a star cluster was found in the form of a big cloud of ionized gas (the Dragonfish Nebula). Its microwave emissions led to the suspicion that radiation from massive stars nearby had ionized the gas. A little later a knot of 400 massive stars in the cloud’s heart have been identified. The cluster probably contains many more stars too small and dim to see.
The surrounding cloud of ionized gas is producing more microwaves than clouds around other star clusters in our Milky Way galaxy. That suggests the Dragonfish contains the brightest and most massive young cluster discovered so far, with a total mass in the range of 100,000 times the mass of our Sun. Because it is located nearby in our own galaxy, it can be studied in great detail.
The strong stellar winds of the young and massive stars have blown a bubble in the gas and dust, carving out a shell of more than 100 light-years across (seen in the lower, central part of this image). This shell forms the “toothy mouth” of the Dragonfish, and the two bright spots make it up its beady eyes.
The infrared light in this region is coming from the gas and dust that are being heated up by the unseen central cluster of massive stars. The bright spots along the shell, including the “eyes,” are possible smaller regions of newly formed stars, triggered by the compression of the gas and dust by winds from the central, massive stars.
This infrared image was taken by NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope. The infrared light was captured by the infrared array camera on Spitzer, at wavelengths of 3.6 microns (blue); 4.5 microns (green); and 8.0 microns (red). The data were captured before Spitzer ran out of its liquid coolant in 2009, and began its “warm” mission.
Source: http://annesastronomynews.com/annes-image-of-the-day-the-dragonfish-nebula/
Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.
"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world. Anyone can join. Anyone can contribute. Anyone can become informed about their world. "United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
LION'S MANE PRODUCT
Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules
Mushrooms are having a moment. One fabulous fungus in particular, lion’s mane, may help improve memory, depression and anxiety symptoms. They are also an excellent source of nutrients that show promise as a therapy for dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re living with anxiety or depression, you may be curious about all the therapy options out there — including the natural ones.Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend has been formulated to utilize the potency of Lion’s mane but also include the benefits of four other Highly Beneficial Mushrooms. Synergistically, they work together to Build your health through improving cognitive function and immunity regardless of your age. Our Nootropic not only improves your Cognitive Function and Activates your Immune System, but it benefits growth of Essential Gut Flora, further enhancing your Vitality.
Our Formula includes: Lion’s Mane Mushrooms which Increase Brain Power through nerve growth, lessen anxiety, reduce depression, and improve concentration. Its an excellent adaptogen, promotes sleep and improves immunity. Shiitake Mushrooms which Fight cancer cells and infectious disease, boost the immune system, promotes brain function, and serves as a source of B vitamins. Maitake Mushrooms which regulate blood sugar levels of diabetics, reduce hypertension and boosts the immune system. Reishi Mushrooms which Fight inflammation, liver disease, fatigue, tumor growth and cancer. They Improve skin disorders and soothes digestive problems, stomach ulcers and leaky gut syndrome. Chaga Mushrooms which have anti-aging effects, boost immune function, improve stamina and athletic performance, even act as a natural aphrodisiac, fighting diabetes and improving liver function. Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules Today. Be 100% Satisfied or Receive a Full Money Back Guarantee. Order Yours Today by Following This Link.
