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Credit & Copyright: Anglo-Australian Telescope
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Explanation:
In the center of the glowing red gas on the
Trifid Nebula lies an
open cluster of
young hot stars. The energetic
light
from these stars strikes
hydrogen atoms
in the surrounding nebula causing
them to lose their
electrons.
When an electron finds its way back to a hydrogen proton, it emits light at
very specific colors - one of which is the red color of the nebula seen
here. The red glow is thus indicative of an emission nebula. The
dramatic dark sheets are made of interstellar
dust grains, tiny needle
shaped pellets which are thought to be created and expelled in the
atmospheres of cooler stars.
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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
Publications with words: Trifid nebula
See also: