This
vibrant image depicts a turbulent area of outer space which, to some, evokes a fox,
hence the name Fox Fur Nebula. It lies in the constellation Monoceros, the
Unicorn, near the left arm of Orion, just below the large, bright star S Mon (not
visible in this image).
The
enigmatically textured shapes comprise dust and gas, whipped into peculiar
shapes by powerful stellar winds. Blue-colored areas are formed of dust
reflecting starlight. Red areas are glowing from emission caused by the
ionization of hydrogen gas by starlight.
The Fox Fur
Nebula is part of a much larger complex known as The Christmas Tree Cluster.
— SPACE.com Staff
Credit: Canada-France-Hawaii
Telescope/Coelum
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