A Rose is a Rose, Even in Space
This is not the first photograph of the Rosette Nebula, but it is remarkable for being taken by amateur astrophotographers.
Michael Petrasko and Muir Eveden spent
a night at the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona. A program
there introduces amateurs to the art and science of astronomy and astrophotography.
The nebula is about 4,500 light-years away in constellation Monoceros. It is
visible with binoculars under dark skies away from urban lighting. But to draw
out the color, an exposure like this -- longer than what the eye can see at
any given moment -- is needed.
The Rosette Nebula is a stellar nursery. Hot young stars create radiation and
stellar winds that slam into each other, generating the interesting emissions
visible here.
Its appearance changes based on exposure time, filters, and the telescope and
camera used. So …
-- SPACE.com Staff
Credit: Michael Petrasko and Muir Eveden
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