Sunday, April 15, 2012

APOD 4.3

April 10, 2012: A Fox Fur, a Unicorn, and a Christmas Tree
See Explanation.  Clicking on the picture will download 
the highest resolution version available.
     The above picture is of the constellation Monoceros, star forming region NGC 2264.  It is roughly 2700 light-years in distance.  It mixes red emission nebulae and blue reflection nebulae.  This picture specifically includes the Fox Fur Nebula, the Cone Nebula, and S Mon (a young dwarf star which gives the photo a blue glow).  The red color in the photo and the Cone Nebula is produced by hydrogen gas.

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