Still Life with Reflecting Dust
Explanation:
In this beautiful
celestial still life
composed with a cosmic brush, dusty nebula
NGC 2170 shines at the upper left.
Reflecting the light of nearby hot stars, NGC 2170
is joined
by other bluish
reflection nebulae,
a compact red
emission region,
and streamers of obscuring dust against a backdrop of stars.
Like the common household items
still life painters often choose for their subjects,
the clouds of gas, dust, and hot stars
pictured here are also commonly found in this setting -
a massive,
star-forming molecular cloud
in the constellation of the Unicorn (
Monoceros).
The giant
molecular
cloud, Mon R2, is impressively close,
estimated
to be only 2,400 light-years or so away.
At that distance, this canvas would be about 15 light-years across.
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.
