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Credit & Copyright: Giorgio Ferrari
Explanation:
A study in contrasts,
this colorful skyscape
features
stars,
dust, and glowing gas
in the vicinity of NGC 6914.
The
interstellar complex
of nebulae
lies some 6,000 light-years away,
toward the high-flying northern constellation
Cygnus and the plane of our
Milky Way Galaxy.
Obscuring interstellar dust clouds appear in
silhouette while reddish hydrogen
emission nebulae,
along with the dusty blue
reflection nebulae,
fill the cosmic canvas.
Ultraviolet radiation from the massive, hot, young stars of the extensive
Cygnus OB2
association ionize the region's atomic
hydrogen gas, producing
the characteristic red glow as protons and electrons recombine.
Embedded Cygnus OB2 stars also provide the
blue starlight strongly reflected by the dust clouds.
The over 1 degree wide telescopic field of view spans
about 100 light-years at the estimated distance of NGC 6914.
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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: emission nebula - reflection nebula
Publications with words: emission nebula - reflection nebula
See also:
- APOD: 2024 May 1 Á IC 1795: The Fishhead Nebula
- APOD: 2024 April 24 Á Dragons Egg Bipolar Emission Nebula
- APOD: 2024 March 13 Á The Seagull Nebula
- APOD: 2024 February 21 Á Seagull Nebula over Pinnacles Peak
- NGC 1893 and the Tadpoles of IC 410
- The Light, the Dark, and the Dusty
- APOD: 2023 December 13 Á Deep Field: The Heart Nebula