Space
ESO Imager Captures Stunning New Image of Rose-Colored, Star-Forming Region
Catherine Griffin
First Posted: Sep 24, 2015 09:02 AM EDT
ESO's Wide Field Imager has captured a spectacular, new image of a rose-colored star forming region Messier 17. The new image, which is one of the sharpest images to show the nebula, reveals not only its full size but also retains fine detail throughout the cosmic landscape.
While the rose-colored region of space is officially known as Messier 17, it has many nicknames. Some of these include the Omega Nebula, the Swan Nebula, the Checkmark Nebula, the Horseshoe Nebula, and the Lobster Nebula. It's located about 5,500 light-years away from Earth near the plane of the Milky Way and in the constellation of Sagittarius.
Messier 17 actually spans a large section of the sky. Its gas and dust clouds measure about 15 light-years across; the material itself fuels the birth of new stars and the new image reveals many stars in front of or behind Messier 17.
The gas within the nebula is estimated to have more than 30,000 times the mass of the sun. Messier 17 also contains an open star cluster of 35 stars, which is known as NGC 6618. The total number of stars in the nebula, however, is much higher; there are almost 800 stars in the center with even more forming in its outer regions.
The nebula also shows a web of darker regions of dust that obscure the light. This obscuring material is also glowing and, although these areas are dark in this visible-light image, appear to be bright when observed using infrared cameras.
The new picture shows astronomers a bit more about this nebula, including the fine details seen in this image.
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First Posted: Sep 24, 2015 09:02 AM EDT
ESO's Wide Field Imager has captured a spectacular, new image of a rose-colored star forming region Messier 17. The new image, which is one of the sharpest images to show the nebula, reveals not only its full size but also retains fine detail throughout the cosmic landscape.
While the rose-colored region of space is officially known as Messier 17, it has many nicknames. Some of these include the Omega Nebula, the Swan Nebula, the Checkmark Nebula, the Horseshoe Nebula, and the Lobster Nebula. It's located about 5,500 light-years away from Earth near the plane of the Milky Way and in the constellation of Sagittarius.
Messier 17 actually spans a large section of the sky. Its gas and dust clouds measure about 15 light-years across; the material itself fuels the birth of new stars and the new image reveals many stars in front of or behind Messier 17.
The gas within the nebula is estimated to have more than 30,000 times the mass of the sun. Messier 17 also contains an open star cluster of 35 stars, which is known as NGC 6618. The total number of stars in the nebula, however, is much higher; there are almost 800 stars in the center with even more forming in its outer regions.
The nebula also shows a web of darker regions of dust that obscure the light. This obscuring material is also glowing and, although these areas are dark in this visible-light image, appear to be bright when observed using infrared cameras.
The new picture shows astronomers a bit more about this nebula, including the fine details seen in this image.
Related Stories
Sculptor Dwarf Galaxy Captured in Stunning New Image is Our Galactic Neighbor
Hubble Space Telescope Spots Cosmic Sunflower Galaxy with Stunning Detail
For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone