|
 |
 advertisement
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Image of the Day: The Crescent Nebula
posted: 07:00 am ET
05 May 2003
|
Untitled Document
T.A. Rector/NRAO/AUI/NSF/NOAO/AURA
CLICK IMAGE FOR LARGER VERSION
The Crescent Nebula was created by the bright star that's visible at its center. It may be as young as 250,000 years, astronomers say. Also known as NGC 6888, the nebula is made of gas that is being energized by the strong stellar wind from the central object, a Wolf-Rayet star named WR 136. These stars are very hot and massive. They blow material off their outer layers, generating a wind of debris that streams out and strikes previously ejected material, sculpting the gas and dust into the intricate shapes seen here. The central star illuminates the scene. The nebula is about 4,700 light-years away in the constellation of Cygnus, the Swan. This picture was taken with the National Science Foundation's 0.9-meter telescope on Kitt Peak in Arizona. [Wolf-Rayets and Star Wars] -- Robert Roy Britt Return each weekday for a new SPACE.com Image of the Day. 
|
|
|
|
|
