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Credit: Jason Ware
Explanation:
Three dark dust lanes give the picturesque
Trifid Nebula its name.
The red and blue colors of the
Trifid Nebula are present in different regions
and are created by different processes.
A big bright star near the center of the
red region appears white hot and emits light so energetic it knocks
electrons away from gas surrounding it.
When an electron is recaptured by a proton,
red light is frequently emitted.
The blue region is centered on
another bright star but this region's
dust reflects light to us.
The two regions are thus called an
emission nebula and
reflection nebula, respectively.
The Trifid Nebula can be seen in
Sagittarius toward the Galactic Center
with a small telescope.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Trifid nebula - reflection nebula - emission nebula
Publications with words: Trifid nebula - reflection nebula - emission nebula
See also: