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Credit & Copyright: GMOS,
Gemini Observatory
Explanation:
Clouds of glowing gas mingle with lanes of dark dust in the
Trifid Nebula, a star forming region toward the constellation of
Sagittarius.
In the center, the three huge dark
dust lanes that give the
Trifid its name all come together.
Mountains of opaque dust
appear on the lower left, while filaments of
dust are visible threaded throughout the nebula.
A single massive star visible near the center causes much of the
Trifid's glow.
The Trifid, also known as
M20,
is only about 300,000 years old, making it among the youngest
emission nebula known.
The nebula lies about 5000 light years away and part pictured above
spans about 20 light years.
The above false-color digitally enhanced image was taken with the
Gemini North telescope earlier this month.
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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 - M 20
Publications with words: Trifid nebula - M 20
See also: