Credit & Copyright: Star Shadows Remote ObservatoryExplanation: The famous Horsehead Nebula in Orion is not alone. A deep exposure shows that the dark familiar shaped indentation, visible just below center, is part of a vast complex of absorbing dust and glowing gas. To bring out details of the Horsehead's pasture, amateur astronomers at the Star Shadow Remote Observatory in New Mexico, USA fixed a small telescope on the region for over seven hours filtering out all but a very specific color of red light emitted by hydrogen. They then added the image to a full color frame taken over three hours. The resulting spectacular picture details an intricate tapestry of gaseous wisps and dust-laden filaments that were created and sculpted over eons by stellar winds and ancient supernovas. The Horsehead Nebula lies 1,500 light years distant towards the constellation of Orion. Two stars from the Orion's Belt can be found in the above image.
2 comments:
If you think these astronomy photos are cool, take a college astronomy course at a college or university and your mind will start to consider so many possibilities. It's mind-boggling. I studied some astronomy at a school where they have their own planetarium and I looked forward to that class so much and learned the most wonderful things. LOoking outside of our own little realm, and our own little world and our own small ways of thinking...the possibilities are INFINITE. If I was younger, knowing what I know now, I would be an astronomer.
me too stardust. the same thing happened to me. I was a music major at undergrad and took the same kind of astronomy course and flipped over it. I went and bought a really expensive telescope with student loan money and returned it 3 weeks later because i ran out of money of rent and food.
guess it wasnt meant to be.
nice pictures.
seth
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