A Beautiful Trifid
Explanation:
The beautiful
Trifid Nebula
(aka M20),
a photogenic study in cosmic contrasts, lies about
5,000
light-years away toward the nebula rich
constellation Sagittarius.
A star forming region in the plane of our galaxy,
the Trifid alone illustrates three basic types of
astronomical nebulae;
red
emission nebulae dominated by
light from hydrogen atoms,
blue
reflection nebulae produced
by dust reflecting starlight, and
dark
absorption nebulae where
dense dust clouds appear in silhouette.
The bright emission nebula on the right, separated into three
parts by obscuring dust lanes, lends the nebula its popular name.
Many details are apparent in this
gorgeous
high-resolution image
of the Trifid.
For example, light-year long pillars and jets sculpted by
newborn stars - visible here in the upper right-hand corner
of the emission nebula - appear in Hubble Space Telescope
close-up images
of the region.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
