2025 December 6

Apollo 17 at Shorty Crater
* Apollo 17 Crew, NASA
https://apollojournals.org/
https://www.nasa.gov/

Explanation:
Fifty three years ago, in December of 1972, Apollo 17 astronauts Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt spent about 75 hours on the Moon exploring the Taurus-Littrow valley, while colleague Ronald Evans orbited overhead. This snapshot from another world was taken by Cernan as he and Schmitt roamed the lunar valley's floor. The image shows Schmitt next to the lunar rover parked at the southeast rim of Shorty Crater. That location is near the spot where geologist Schmitt discovered orange lunar soil. The Apollo 17 crew returned with 110 kilograms of rock and soil samples, more than was returned from any of the other lunar landing sites. And for now, Cernan and Schmitt are the last to walk on the Moon.
https://www.lpi.usra.edu/lunar/missions/apollo/apollo_17/
https://www.nasa.gov/history/alsj-and-afj/
https://apollojournals.org/alsj/a17/a17.landing.html
https://apollojournals.org/afj/ap17fj/14_day05_part4.html
https://apollojournals.org/alsj/a17/AS17-137-21009HR.jpg
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250328.html
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap040605.html
https://lroc.im-ldi.com/images/417
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shorty_(crater)
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap010523.html
https://www.lpi.usra.edu/lunar/missions/apollo/apollo_17/samples/
https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/artemis/

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/fap/ap251206.html

#space #moon #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #NASA #education #apod

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2025 December 6 Apollo 17 at Shorty Crater * Apollo 17 Crew, NASA Explanation: Fifty three years ago, in December of 1972, Apollo 17 astronauts Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt spent about 75 hours on the Moon exploring the Taurus-Littrow valley, while colleague Ronald Evans orbited overhead. This snapshot from another world was taken by Cernan as he and Schmitt roamed the lunar valley's floor. The image shows Schmitt next to the lunar rover parked at the southeast rim of Shorty Crater. That location is near the spot where geologist Schmitt discovered orange lunar soil. The Apollo 17 crew returned with 110 kilograms of rock and soil samples, more than was returned from any of the other lunar landing sites. And for now, Cernan and Schmitt are the last to walk on the Moon. Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply. NASA Web Privacy, Accessibility, Notices; A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC, NASA Science Activation & Michigan Tech. U.

Sonification of WR 124

The first movement is a prelude to the potential birth of a black hole. WR124 is an extremely bright, short-lived massive star known as a Wolf-Rayet at a distance of about 28,000 light-years from Earth. These stars fling their outer layers out into space, creating spectacular arrangements seen in an image in infrared light from the Webb telescope. In the sonification of WR124, this nebula is heard as flutes and the background stars as bells. At the center of WR124, where the scan begins before moving outward, is a hot core of the star that may explode as a supernova and potentially collapse and leave behind a black hole in its wake. As the scan moves from the center outward, X-ray sources detected by Chandra are translated into harp sounds. Data from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is heard as metallic bell-like sounds, while the light of the central star is mapped to produce the descending scream-like sound at the beginning. The piece is rounded out by strings playing additional data from the infrared telescopic trio of ESA’s (European Space Agency’s) Herschel Space Telescope, NASA’s retired Spitzer Space Telescope, and NASA’s retired Wide Image Survey Explorer (WISE) as chords.

Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Infrared: (Herschel) ESA/NASA/Caltech, (Spitzer) NASA/JPL/Caltech, (WISE) NASA/JPL/Caltech; Infrared: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI/Webb ERO Production Team; Image processing: NASA/CXC/SAO/J. Major; Sonification: NASA/CXC/SAO/K.Arcand, SYSTEM Sounds (M. Russo, A. Santaguida)

#space #galaxy #sonification #sound #acoustic #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #education #NASA

TOPIC> Sounds Of The Universe

"Hello everyone! In this topic, the visual stimuli are in the background, even if there will certainly be one or two beautiful pictures to see. Rather, it is about special sounds on our planet and elsewhere in space and acoustic representations of astronomical constellations, so-called sonifications. I really hope to bring a little joy to our visually impaired friends of the Fediverse with this collection and I am very grateful for any inspiration or suggestions for improvement from you!"

2024 March 25

Sonified: The Jellyfish Nebula Supernova Remnant
* Image Credit: X-ray (blue): Chandra (NASA) & ROSAT (ESA); Optical (red): DSS (NSF)
* Radio (green): VLA (NRAO, NSF)
* Sonification: NASA, CXC, SAO, K. Arcand
https://pweb.cfa.harvard.edu/people/kimberly-k-arcand
* SYSTEM Sounds: M. Russo, A. Santaguida)
https://www.astromattrusso.com/
https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/multimedia/sonifications/

Explanation:
What does a supernova remnant sound like? Although sound is a compression wave in matter and does not carry into empty space, interpretive sound can help listeners appreciate and understand a visual image of a supernova remnant in a new way. Recently, the Jellyfish Nebula (IC 443) has been sonified quite creatively. In the featured sound-enhanced video, when an imaginary line passes over a star, the sound of a drop falling into water is played, a sound particularly relevant to the nebula's aquatic namesake. Additionally, when the descending line crosses gas that glows red, a low tone is played, while green sounds a middle tone, and blue produces a tone with a relatively high pitch. Light from the supernova that created the Jellyfish Nebula left approximately 35,000 years ago, when humanity was in the stone age. The nebula will slowly disperse over the next million years, although the explosion also created a dense neutron star which will remain indefinitely.

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240325.html

#space #nebula #sonification #sound #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #education

2002 October 3

V838 Mon: Mystery Star

A leading candidate for the most mysterious star found in recent times is variable star V838 Monocerotis. At a distance of about 8,000 light-years, V838 Mon was discovered to be in outburst in January of this year. Initially thought to be a familiar type of classical nova, astronomers quickly realized that instead, V838 Mon may be a totally new addition to the astronomical zoo. Observations indicate that the erupting star transformed itself over a period of months from a small under-luminous star a little hotter than the Sun, to a highly-luminous, cool supergiant star undergoing rapid and complex brightness changes. The transformation defies the conventional understanding of stellar life cycles. A most notable feature of V838 Mon is the "expanding" nebula which now appears to surround it. Seen above in two separate images from the South African Astronomical Observatory's 1 meter telescope, the nebula is probably a light echo from shells of formerly unseen material lost by the star during its previous evolution. Light-years in diameter, the shells progressively reflect the light from V838 Mon's outbursts, providing an opportunity to look back at the history of this remarkable star's behaviour.

Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (USRA)

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap021003.html

___

This data sonification of the star V838 Monocerotis, or V838 Mon, shows two Hubble images taken almost seven months apart. A pulse of light from the central star illuminates clouds of dust and gas surrounding V838 Mon.

https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/multimedia/sonifications/

CREDIT
NASA, ESA, H.E. Bond (STScI) and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)
* Sonification: SYSTEM Sounds (M. Russo, A. Santaguida)

#space #star #sonification #sound #acoustic #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #education #NASA

2020 December 16

Sonified: The Matter of the Bullet Cluster
* Image Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO
* Optical: NASA/STScI, Magellan/U.Arizona
* Lensing Map: NASA/STScI, ESO WFI, Magellan/U.Arizona
* Sonification: NASA/CXC/SAO/K.Arcand, SYSTEM Sounds (M. Russo, A. Santaguida)

Explanation:
What's the matter with the Bullet Cluster? This massive cluster of galaxies (1E 0657-558) creates gravitational lens distortions of background galaxies in a way that has been interpreted as strong evidence for the leading theory: that dark matter exists within. Different analyses, though, indicate that a less popular alternative -- modifying gravity-- could explain cluster dynamics without dark matter, and provide a more likely progenitor scenario as well. Currently, the two scientific hypotheses are competing to explain the observations: it's invisible matter versus amended gravity. The duel is dramatic as a clear Bullet-proof example of dark matter would shatter the simplicity of modified gravity theories. The featured sonified image is a Hubble/Chandra/Magellan composite with red depicting the X-rays emitted by hot gas, and blue depicting the suggested separated dark matter distribution. The sonification assigns low tones to dark matter, mid-range frequencies to visible light, and high tones to X-rays. The battle over the matter in the Bullet cluster is likely to continue as more observations, computer simulations, and analyses are completed.

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap201216.html

#space #cluster #sonification #sound #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #education #NASA

RS Puppis
Pulsating RS Puppis, the brightest star in the image center, is some ten times more massive than our Sun and on average 15,000 times more luminous. In fact, RS Pup is a Cepheid variable star, a class of stars whose brightness is used to estimate distances to nearby galaxies as one of the first steps in establishing the cosmic distance scale. As RS Pup pulsates over a period of about 40 days, its regular changes in brightness are also seen along its surrounding nebula delayed in time, effectively a light echo. Using measurements of the time delay and angular size of the nebula, the known speed of light allows astronomers to geometrically determine the distance to RS Pup to be 6,500 light-years, with a remarkably small error of plus or minus 90 light-years. An impressive achievement for stellar astronomy, the echo-measured distance also more accurately establishes the true brightness of RS Pup, and by extension other Cepheid stars, improving the knowledge of distances to galaxies beyond the Milky Way.

Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
____

RS Puppis is a glittering star 200 times larger than our Sun and wreathed with dust reflecting starlight. Located about 6,500 light-years away, this star rhythmically brightens and dims over a six-week cycle. In this sonification, scientists represent data in the image as sound for a new, festive way of experiencing RS Puppis. Pitch is assigned based on direction from the center; as the circle travels inward, points at the top of the circle are mapped to higher notes and points near the bottom are mapped to lower notes.
[...]
More information in Alt-Text

CREDIT
NASA, ESA and Jesús Maíz Apellániz (Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, Spain); Acknowledgment: Davide De Martin (ESA/Hubble); Sonification: SYSTEM Sounds (M. Russo, A. Santaguida)

#space #star #sonification #sound #acoustic #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #education #NASA

2020 September 30

Sonified: Eagle Nebula Pillars
* Image Credit: NASA, ESA, & The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)
* Sonification: NASA, CXC, SAO, K. Arcand, M. Russo & A. Santaguida

Explanation:
Yes, but have you ever experienced the Eagle Nebula with your ears ? The famous nebula, M16, is best known for the feast it gives your eyes, highlighting bright young stars forming deep inside dark towering structures. These light-years long columns of cold gas and dust are some 6,500 light-years distant toward the constellation of the Serpent (Serpens). Sculpted and eroded by the energetic ultraviolet light and powerful winds from M16's cluster of massive stars, the cosmic pillars themselves are destined for destruction. But the turbulent environment of star formation within M16, whose spectacular details are captured in this combined Hubble (visible) and Chandra (X-ray) image, is likely similar to the environment that formed our own Sun. In the featured video, listen for stars and dust sounding off as the line of sonification moves left to right, with vertical position determining pitch.

Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap200930.html

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These pillars of gas and dust in the Eagle Nebula are regions of starbirth. The aptly named "Pillars of Creation" hide newborn stars in their wispy columns. Stretching roughly 4 to 5 light-years, the towers are a relatively small feature of the entire Eagle Nebula, which spans 70 by 55 light-years.

In the sonification, sounds are generated by moving horizontally across the image from left to right as seen in both visible and X-ray light. The vertical position of the recorded light controls the pitch. Particular attention is paid to the structure of the pillars, which can be heard as sweeps from low to high pitches and back.

#space #nebula #sonification #sound #acoustic #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #education #NASA

Mice Galaxies

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

NGC 4676, or the Mice Galaxies, are two spiral galaxies in the constellation Coma Berenices. About 290 million light-years distant, they have begun the process of colliding and merging. Their "mice" name refers to the long tails produced by tidal action—the relative difference between gravitational pulls on the near and far parts of each galaxy—known here as a galactic tide. It is a possibility that both galaxies, which are members of the Coma Cluster, have experienced collision, and will continue colliding until they coalesce.

The colors of the galaxies are peculiar. In NGC 4676A a core with some dark markings is surrounded by a bluish white remnant of spiral arms. The tail is unusual, starting out blue and terminating in a more yellowish color, despite the fact that the beginning of each arm in virtually every spiral galaxy starts yellow and terminates in a bluish color. NGC 4676B has a yellowish core and two arcs; arm remnants underneath are bluish as well.

The galaxies were photographed in 2002 by the Hubble Space Telescope. In the background of the Mice Galaxies, there are over 3000 galaxies, at distances up to 13 billion light-years.

By contributors to Wikimedia projects

----

The Mice Galaxies are a colliding pair of galaxies, that will eventually merge into a single galaxy. They’re located about 300 million light-years away in the constellation Coma Berenices. In this data sonification, scientists represented brightness with volume and pitch – brighter light is louder and lower pitched. The vertical position of objects in the image is used to control the pitch of sustained musical strings, and cymbals swell following the brightness of the galaxy cores. Listen for a cymbal crash played for the foreground star with diffraction spikes, too!

CREDIT
Please see the ALT-Text

#space #galaxy #sonification #sound #acoustic #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #education #NASA

Earth's Song
by Maria-Jose Vinas Garcia

Suspended in the dark cosmos, Earth sings to itself in a high-pitched chorus of chirps and beeps. This song is a product of very low frequency radio waves generated by lightning strikes or excited electrons zipping through the Van Allen Belts, two vast swaths of radiation surrounding Earth. While ham radio operators have long detected this eerie planetary sound using inexpensive receivers, the recent recording by specially designed antennas on NASA's twin Van Allen Probes is one of the clearest examples ever captured. But could Earth's chorus be a siren song? The probes are now on a quest to find out whether these radio waves might be powering up otherwise harmless electrons in the Van Allen Belts, turning them into "killer electrons" capable of damaging satellites and astronauts. Watch the videos to hear and learn more about this rare recording.

https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/11073

Credits:
+ Science@NASA
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
+ Van Allen Belts image courtesy of NASA
+ T. Benesch and J. Carns

#space #earth #hamradio #audio #sound #acoustic #tech #science #astronomy #nature #education #NASA

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Suspended in the dark cosmos, Earth sings to itself in a high-pitched chorus of chirps and beeps. This song is a product of very low frequency radio waves generated by lightning strikes or excited electrons zipping through the Van Allen Belts, two vast swaths of radiation surrounding Earth. While ham radio operators have long detected this eerie planetary sound using inexpensive receivers, the recent recording by specially designed antennas on NASA's twin Van Allen Probes is one of the clearest examples ever captured. But could Earth's chorus be a siren song? The probes are now on a quest to find out whether these radio waves might be powering up otherwise harmless electrons in the Van Allen Belts, turning them into "killer electrons" capable of damaging satellites and astronauts. Watch the videos to hear and learn more about this rare recording. Credits: + Science@NASA NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center + Van Allen Belts image courtesy of NASA + T. Benesch and J. Carns

Let's listen to

Earth's Song
Chorus Waves of Earth recorded

Credits:
+ Science@NASA
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
+ Van Allen Belts image courtesy of NASA
+ T. Benesch and J. Carns

#space #earth #hamradio #audio #sound #acoustic #tech #science #astronomy #nature #education #NASA

NGC 1300

The majestic barred spiral galaxy NGC 1300’s arms hold blue clusters of young stars, pink clouds of star formation, and dark lanes of dust. NGC 1300 is considered to be prototypical of barred spiral galaxies. Barred spirals differ from normal spiral galaxies in that the arms of the galaxy do not spiral all the way into the center, but are connected to the two ends of a straight bar of stars containing the nucleus at its center. In this image, blue and red supergiant stars, star clusters, and star-forming regions are well resolved by Hubble across the spiral arms, and dust lanes trace out fine structures in the disk and bar. Numerous more distant galaxies are visible in the background, and are seen even through the densest regions of NGC 1300.

To represent this image with sound, scientists assigned louder volume to brighter light. Light farther from the center is pitched higher as a counterclockwise radar scans across the galaxy. NGC 1300 resides nearly 70 million light-years away in the constellation Eridanus.

CREDITS:
+ NASA, ESA, and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)
+ Acknowledgment: P. Knezek (WIYN)
+ Sonification: SYSTEM Sounds (M. Russo, A. Santaguida)

https://youtu.be/zyf1UDm-GyU

#space #galaxy #sonification #sound #acoustic #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #education #NASA

Sagittarius A* EHT Radio Sonification

This is a sonification — translation into sound — of the latest image from the Event Horizon Telescope of the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way called Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*). Using a radar-like scan, the sonification begins at the 12 o'clock position and sweeps clockwise. Changes in volume represent the differences in brightness the EHT observed around the event horizon of Sgr A*. The material that is closer to the black hole and hence moving faster corresponds to higher frequencies of sound. This sonification was processed in a special way to allow a listener to hear the data in 3D stereo sound, in which the sounds seem to start directly ahead and then move clockwise to one ear then the other as the sweep is made.

About the Sound:

+ This is a radar-like scan, starting from 12 o'clock and moving clockwise.
+ The brightness controls the volume and the radial position controls the frequencies that are present.
+ The emission from material closer to the black hole (which orbits faster) is mapped to higher frequencies.
+ The sound is rendered in binaural audio. When listened to with headphones, the sound will appear to start directly in front of you and then move clockwise all the way around your head.
+ Listen for the three bright regions at about 1, 5, and 9 o'clock, as well as the very low tones indicating fainter light from outside the main ring.

For thread i looped the sonification three times.

+ Sonification Credit: NASA/CXC/SAO/K.Arcand, SYSTEM Sounds (M. Russo, A. Santaguida);
+ Image Credit: Radio: EHT Collaboration; X-ray (NASA/CXC/SAO); Infrared (NASA/HST/STScI)

More about the Center of our Galaxy in TOPIC> "Bull's Eye" into the Center of our Galaxy
https://defcon.social/@grobi/114498597554595255

https://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2022/sgra/animations.html

#space #galaxy #sonification #sound #acoustic #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #education #NASA

2006 July 22

Mira: The Wonderful Star
* Credit:
+ X-ray Image (left): M. Karovska (Harvard-Smithsonian CfA) et al., CXC / NASA
https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/
https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0503050
https://chandra.harvard.edu/
https://www.nasa.gov/
+ Illustration (right): M.Weiss(CXC)

Explanation:
To seventeenth century astronomers, Omicron Ceti or Mira was known as a wonderful star - a star whose brightness could change dramatically in the course of about 11 months. Modern astronomers now recognize an entire class of long period Mira-type variables as cool, pulsating, red giant stars, 700 or so times the diameter of the Sun. Only 420 light-years away, red giant Mira (Mira A, right) itself co-orbits with a companion star, a small white dwarf (Mira B). Mira B is surrounded by a disk of material drawn from the pulsating giant and in such a double star system, the white dwarf star's hot accretion disk is expected to produce some x-rays. But this sharp, false-color image from the Chandra Observatory also captures the cool giant star strongly flaring at x-ray energies, clearly separated from the x-ray emission of its companion's accretion disk. Placing your cursor over the Chandra x-ray image of Mira will reveal an artist's vision of this still wonderful interacting binary star system.
https://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2005/mira/mira_hand.pdf
https://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2005/mira/
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap010121.html
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap050312.html
https://chandra.harvard.edu/xray_astro/medxray.html
https://spider.seds.org/spider/Vars/mira.html

https://spider.seds.org/spider/Vars/mira.html

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap060722.html

#space #binary_stars #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #physics #nature #NASA #education

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2006 July 22 Mira: The Wonderful Star * Credit: + X-ray Image (left): M. Karovska (Harvard-Smithsonian CfA) et al., CXC / NASA + Illustration (right): M.Weiss(CXC) Explanation: To seventeenth century astronomers, Omicron Ceti or Mira was known as a wonderful star - a star whose brightness could change dramatically in the course of about 11 months. Modern astronomers now recognize an entire class of long period Mira-type variables as cool, pulsating, red giant stars, 700 or so times the diameter of the Sun. Only 420 light-years away, red giant Mira (Mira A, right) itself co-orbits with a companion star, a small white dwarf (Mira B). Mira B is surrounded by a disk of material drawn from the pulsating giant and in such a double star system, the white dwarf star's hot accretion disk is expected to produce some x-rays. But this sharp, false-color image from the Chandra Observatory also captures the cool giant star strongly flaring at x-ray energies, clearly separated from the x-ray emission of its companion's accretion disk. Placing your cursor over the Chandra x-ray image of Mira will reveal an artist's vision of this still wonderful interacting binary star system. 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: EUD at NASA / GSFC & Michigan Tech. U.

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Illustration Mira: A double star system 420 light years from Earth Chandra‘s image shows Mira A (right), a highly evolved red giant star, and Mira B (left), a white dwarf. To the right of the image is an artist‘s conception of this interacting star system. Mira A is losing gas rapidly from its upper atmosphere via a stellar wind. Mira B exerts a gravitational tug that creates a gaseous bridge between the two stars. Gas from the wind and bridge accumulates in an accretion disk around Mira B and collisions between rapidly moving particles in the disk produce X-rays. An unexpected X-ray outburst from Mira A was observed by Chandra. This outburst was likely an indirect consequence of the internal turmoil in Mira A, which is now approaching the stage where its nuclear fuel supply will be exhausted. It will eventually collapse to become a white dwarf, like Mira B. Scale: X-ray image is 1.2 arcsec per side. Chandra X-ray Observatory ACIS Image CXC operated for NASA by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO/M. Karovska et al.; Illustration: CXC/M.Weiss

Detection of 19 lt-yr Long Bipolar Jets from Interacting Binary KX And
-- Stefan Ziegenbalg

Abstract

Bipolar jets with an apparent length of 20' ejected from KX And have been discovered in the first data release of the Northern Sky Narrowband Survey. KX And is a well-studied interacting binary with mass transfer through Roche lobe overflow at a distance of about 760 pc. However, the faint jets, which are visible in Hα light, have been overlooked in the past. With a known inclination of i ≈ 50° of the binary system, this leads to a true length of the jets of about 19 lt-yr (5.8 pc) in each direction.

https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2024RNAAS...8..289Z/graphics

#space #binary_stars #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #physics #nature #NASA #ESA #education

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Bipolar jets with an apparent length of 20' ejected from KX And have been discovered in the first data release of the Northern Sky Narrowband Survey. KX And is a well-studied interacting binary with mass transfer through Roche lobe overflow at a distance of about 760 pc. However, the faint jets, which are visible in Hα light, have been overlooked in the past. With a known inclination of i ≈ 50° of the binary system, this leads to a true length of the jets of about 19 lt-yr (5.8 pc) in each direction.

2025 December 5

The Bipolar Jets of KX Andromedae
* Image Credit & Copyright: Tim Schaeffer and the Deep Sky Collective
https://deepskycollective.com/kxand/steeve
https://deepskycollective.com/gallery

Explanation:
Blasting outward from variable star KX Andromedae, these stunning bipolar jets are 19 light-years long. Recently discovered, they are revealed in unprecedented detail in this deep telescopic image centered on KX And and composed from over 692 hours of combined image data. In fact, KX And is spectroscopically found to be an interacting binary star system consisting of a bright, hot B-type star with a swollen cool giant star as its co-orbiting, close companion. The stellar material from the cool giant star is likely being transferred to the hot B-type star through an accretion disk, with spectacular symmetric jets driven outward perpendicular to the disk itself. The known distance to KX And of 2,500 light-years, angular size of the jets, and estimated inclination of the accretion disk lead to the size estimate for each jet of an astonishing 19 light-years.
https://deepskycollective.com/gallery
https://app.astrobin.com/i/nllu5u?r=0
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binary_star#Spectroscopic_binaries
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap060722.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accretion_disk
https://www.astroexplorer.org/details/rnaasad9478f1

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap251205.html

#space #binary_stars #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #physics #nature #NASA #ESA #education #apod

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2025 December 5 The Bipolar Jets of KX Andromedae * Image Credit & Copyright: Tim Schaeffer and the Deep Sky Collective Explanation: Blasting outward from variable star KX Andromedae, these stunning bipolar jets are 19 light-years long. Recently discovered, they are revealed in unprecedented detail in this deep telescopic image centered on KX And and composed from over 692 hours of combined image data. In fact, KX And is spectroscopically found to be an interacting binary star system consisting of a bright, hot B-type star with a swollen cool giant star as its co-orbiting, close companion. The stellar material from the cool giant star is likely being transferred to the hot B-type star through an accretion disk, with spectacular symmetric jets driven outward perpendicular to the disk itself. The known distance to KX And of 2,500 light-years, angular size of the jets, and estimated inclination of the accretion disk lead to the size estimate for each jet of an astonishing 19 light-years. Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply. NASA Web Privacy, Accessibility, Notices; A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC, NASA Science Activation & Michigan Tech. U.

TOPIC> Binary Star Systems

Bipolar jets from KX And
-- Stefan Ziegenbalg
https://www.simg.de/nebulae1/and-00.html

[...]
KX And (also known as BD+49 4045 and HD 218393) is a binary system consisting in a primary star with a spectral classification of B3pe and a cool giant of type K1III (Shenavrin et al., 2011). This secondary star, which has about half the mass of its companion (Floquet et al., 1995), is assumed to overflow its Roche lobe and thus transferring gas to the primary star (Floquet et al., 1989). The resulting accretion disk is responsible for the emission lines in the spectrum of the Be star.

A fraction of the material that falls to the accreting star is ejected in the form of jets which are aligned perpendicular to the accretion disk. The jets are likely ionized by the B3pe component of KX And. The elongated bubble, including the bright tip at the end of the northern jet is probably formed by the interaction of the ejected gas with interstellar medium and may also be ionized by kinetic energy.

The apparent length of the northern jet (with the bright tip) is 19.9′, while the southern jet is 20.3′ long. With a distance of 760±10 pc (Gaia Collaboration et al., 2023) and an inclination to the line of sight of the binary system (and thus of the accretion disc) of about 50° (Berdyugin et al., 1998), this corresponds to a true length of about 19 light-years (5.8 pc) for each jet.
[...]

#space #binary_stars #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #physics #nature #NASA #ESA #education

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Bipolar jets ejected from KX And in Hα light without continuum. The image reveals fine details and shows two jets with an apparent length of about 20′, with the northern jet ending in a bright tip. That structure appears to be the outer end of a cigar-shaped shell. There is a diffuse structure in the southern jet, about 7′ from KX And. Both jets begin (becoming visible) at an apparent distance of about 1.8′ and the ejection rate seems to be vary strongly. The bright point source in the main picture is KX And, which remains visible as a result of precise continuum subtraction because the brighter companion of this binary system is an emission-line star.

"According to wikipedia-de , the Fornax cluster has the fourth strongest radio source in the sky at a frequency of 1400 MHz
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fornax-Galaxienhaufen "

2005 June 28

The Giant Radio Lobes of Fornax A
* Credit: Ed Fomalont (NRAO) et al., VLA, NRAO, AUI, NSF

Explanation:
Together, the radio lobes span over one million light years -- what caused them? In the center is a large but peculiar elliptical galaxy dubbed NGC 1316. Detailed inspection of the NGC 1316 system indicates that it began absorbing a small neighboring galaxy about 100 million years ago. Gas from the galactic collision has fallen inward toward the massive central black hole, with friction heating the gas to 10 million degrees. For reasons not yet well understood, two oppositely pointed fast moving jets of particles then developed, eventually smashing into the ambient material on either side of the giant elliptical galaxy. The result is a huge reservoir of hot gas that emits radio waves, observed as the orange (false-color) radio lobes in the above image. The radio image is superposed on an optical survey image of the same part of the sky. Strange patterns in the radio lobes likely indicate slight changes in the directions of the jets.

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap050628.html

#space #cluster #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #physics #nature #NASA #apod

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2005 June 28 The Giant Radio Lobes of Fornax A * Credit: Ed Fomalont (NRAO) et al., VLA, NRAO, AUI, NSF Explanation: Together, the radio lobes span over one million light years -- what caused them? In the center is a large but peculiar elliptical galaxy dubbed NGC 1316. Detailed inspection of the NGC 1316 system indicates that it began absorbing a small neighboring galaxy about 100 million years ago. Gas from the galactic collision has fallen inward toward the massive central black hole, with friction heating the gas to 10 million degrees. For reasons not yet well understood, two oppositely pointed fast moving jets of particles then developed, eventually smashing into the ambient material on either side of the giant elliptical galaxy. The result is a huge reservoir of hot gas that emits radio waves, observed as the orange (false-color) radio lobes in the above image. The radio image is superposed on an optical survey image of the same part of the sky. Strange patterns in the radio lobes likely indicate slight changes in the directions of the jets. Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply. NASA Web Privacy, Accessibility, Notices; A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC, NASA Science Activation & Michigan Tech. U.

2025 December 4

Galaxies in the Furnace
* Image Credit & Copyright: Simone Curzi and the ShaRA Team
https://app.astrobin.com/u/MRWSKYLOVER?i=0ym89c#gallery
https://astrotrex.wordpress.com/2024/12/16/shara11-fornax-a-and-a-potential-discovery/

Explanation:
An example of violence on a cosmic scale, enormous elliptical galaxy NGC 1316 lies about 75 million light-years away toward Fornax, the southern constellation of the Furnace. Investigating the startling sight, astronomers suspect the giant galaxy of colliding with smaller neighbor NGC 1317 seen just right of the large galaxy's center, causing far flung loops and shells of stars. Light from their close encounter would have reached Earth some 100 million years ago. In the sharp telescopic image, the central regions of NGC 1316 and NGC 1317 appear separated by over 100,000 light-years. Complex dust lanes visible within also indicate that NGC 1316 is itself the result of a merger of galaxies in the distant past. Found on the outskirts of the Fornax galaxy cluster, NGC 1316 is known as Fornax A. One of the visually brightest of the Fornax cluster galaxies it is one of the strongest and largest celestial radio sources with radio emission extending well beyond this one degree wide field-of-view.
https://earthsky.org/constellations/fornax-the-furnace-galaxy-hubble-ultra-deep-field/
https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/multimedia/hubble-images/
https://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/cosmic_lookback.html
https://app.astrobin.com/u/MRWSKYLOVER?i=0ym89c#gallery
http://www.atlasoftheuniverse.com/galgrps/for.html
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap050628.html

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap251204.html

#space #cluster #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #physics #nature #NASA #apod

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2025 December 4 Galaxies in the Furnace * Image Credit & Copyright: Simone Curzi and the ShaRA Team Explanation: An example of violence on a cosmic scale, enormous elliptical galaxy NGC 1316 lies about 75 million light-years away toward Fornax, the southern constellation of the Furnace. Investigating the startling sight, astronomers suspect the giant galaxy of colliding with smaller neighbor NGC 1317 seen just right of the large galaxy's center, causing far flung loops and shells of stars. Light from their close encounter would have reached Earth some 100 million years ago. In the sharp telescopic image, the central regions of NGC 1316 and NGC 1317 appear separated by over 100,000 light-years. Complex dust lanes visible within also indicate that NGC 1316 is itself the result of a merger of galaxies in the distant past. Found on the outskirts of the Fornax galaxy cluster, NGC 1316 is known as Fornax A. One of the visually brightest of the Fornax cluster galaxies it is one of the strongest and largest celestial radio sources with radio emission extending well beyond this one degree wide field-of-view. Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply. NASA Web Privacy, Accessibility, Notices; A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC, NASA Science Activation & Michigan Tech. U.

JWST captured a chaotic triple-star system with two Wolf-Rayet stars.

#Astronomy #BinaryStars #WolfRayet

https://youtube.com/shorts/XqmEEAu5x6g

2025 December 3

Visualization: Near a Black Hole and Disk
* Illustration Credit: NASA's GSFC, J. Schnittman & B. Powell
https://www.nasa.gov/
https://www.nasa.gov/goddard/
https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/sci/bio/jeremy.d.schnittman
https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/sci/bio/brian.p.powell
* Text: Francis Reddy (U. Maryland, NASA's GSFC)
https://sedvme.gsfc.nasa.gov/sci/bio/francis.j.reddy
https://www.astro.umd.edu/
https://www.nasa.gov/goddard/

Explanation:
What would it look like to plunge into a monster black hole? This image from a supercomputer visualization shows the entire sky as seen from a simulated camera plunging toward a 4-million-solar-mass black hole, similar to the one at the center of our galaxy. The camera lies about 16 million kilometers from the black hole’s event horizon and is moving inward at 62% the speed of light. Thanks to gravity’s funhouse effects, the starry band of the Milky Way appears both as a compact loop at the top of this view and as a secondary image stretching across the bottom. Move the cursor over the image for additional explanations. Visualizations like this allow astronomers to explore black holes in ways not otherwise possible.
https://youtu.be/chhcwk4-esM
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14585/
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/fap/ap220513.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Event_horizon
https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/Numbers/Math/Mathematical_Thinking/how_fast_is_the_speed.htm
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/fap/ap101207.html
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/fap/ap250702.html
https://science.nasa.gov/resource/the-milky-way-galaxy/https://apod.nasa.gov/htmltest/rjn_bht.html
https://science.nasa.gov/universe/black-holes/

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap251203.html

#space #blackhole #astrophysics #astrophotography #photography #astronomy #science #nature #NASA #ESA #education #apod

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2025 December 3 The illustration shows a structured orange band stretching horizontally across the imager. Connected in the middle is the Milky Way Galaxy curving up to the top of the frame. A second image of the orange band runs like a sine wave across the lower half of the frame, while a second image of the Milky Way galaxy appears just above it. Visualization: Near a Black Hole and Disk * Illustration Credit: NASA's GSFC, J. Schnittman & B. Powell; * Text: Francis Reddy (U. Maryland, NASA's GSFC) Explanation: What would it look like to plunge into a monster black hole? This image from a supercomputer visualization shows the entire sky as seen from a simulated camera plunging toward a 4-million-solar-mass black hole, similar to the one at the center of our galaxy. The camera lies about 16 million kilometers from the black hole’s event horizon and is moving inward at 62% the speed of light. Thanks to gravity’s funhouse effects, the starry band of the Milky Way appears both as a compact loop at the top of this view and as a secondary image stretching across the bottom. Move the cursor over the image for additional explanations. Visualizations like this allow astronomers to explore black holes in ways not otherwise possible. Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply. NASA Web Privacy, Accessibility, Notices; A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC, NASA Science Activation & Michigan Tech. U.

2025 December 2

M77: Spiral Galaxy with an Active Center
* Image Credit: Hubble, NASA, ESA, L. C. Ho, D. Thilker
https://hla.stsci.edu/
https://www.nasa.gov/
https://www.esa.int/
http://kavli.pku.edu.cn/people/luis-c-ho
https://physics-astronomy.jhu.edu/directory/david-thilker/

Explanation:
What's happening in the center of nearby spiral galaxy M77? The face-on galaxy lies a mere 47 million light-years away toward the constellation of the Sea Monster (Cetus). At that estimated distance, this gorgeous island universe is about 100 thousand light-years across. Also known as NGC 1068, its compact and very bright core is well studied by astronomers exploring the mysteries of supermassive black holes in active Seyfert galaxies. M77's active core glows bright at x-ray, ultraviolet, visible, infrared, and radio wavelengths. The featured sharp image of M77 was taken by the Hubble Space Telescope. The image shows details of the spiral's winding spiral arms as traced by obscuring red dust clouds and blue star clusters, all circling the galaxy's bright white luminous center.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_77
https://esahubble.org/images/potw2515a/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_galactic_nucleus
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seyfert_galaxy
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250504.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cetus_(constellation)
https://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/cosmic_distance.html
https://ned.ipac.caltech.edu/level5/March02/Gordon/Gordon2.html
https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/science/universe-uncovered/hubble-star-clusters/

https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/overview/about-hubble/
https://science.nasa.gov/ems/11_xrays/
https://science.nasa.gov/ems/10_ultravioletwaves/
https://science.nasa.gov/ems/07_infraredwaves/
https://science.nasa.gov/ems/09_visiblelight/
https://science.nasa.gov/ems/07_infraredwaves/
https://science.nasa.gov/ems/05_radiowaves/
https://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/cosmic_distance.html

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap130831.html
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap161109.html

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap251202.html

#space #galaxy #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #NASA #ESA #apod

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2025 December 2 A big beautiful sprawling spiral galaxy is shown. The galaxy has well defined spiral arms with bright blue star clusters and dark red dust. The center is a bright white. M77: Spiral Galaxy with an Active Center * Image Credit: Hubble, NASA, ESA, L. C. Ho, D. Thilker Explanation: What's happening in the center of nearby spiral galaxy M77? The face-on galaxy lies a mere 47 million light-years away toward the constellation of the Sea Monster (Cetus). At that estimated distance, this gorgeous island universe is about 100 thousand light-years across. Also known as NGC 1068, its compact and very bright core is well studied by astronomers exploring the mysteries of supermassive black holes in active Seyfert galaxies. M77's active core glows bright at x-ray, ultraviolet, visible, infrared, and radio wavelengths. The featured sharp image of M77 was taken by the Hubble Space Telescope. The image shows details of the spiral's winding spiral arms as traced by obscuring red dust clouds and blue star clusters, all circling the galaxy's bright white luminous center. Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply. NASA Web Privacy, Accessibility, Notices; A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC, NASA Science Activation & Michigan Tech. U.

2025 December 1

3I ATLAS: Tails of an Interstellar Comet
* Image Credit & Copyright: Victor Sabet & Julien De Winter
https://www.instagram.com/dwj85/
https://app.astrobin.com/i/jtmq82

Explanation:
How typical is our Solar System? Studying 3I/ATLAS, a comet just passing through, is providing clues. Confirmed previous interstellar visitors include an asteroid, a comet, a meteor, and a gas wind dominated by hydrogen and helium. Comet 3I/ATLAS appears relatively normal when compared to Solar System comets, therefore providing more evidence that our Solar System is a somewhat typical star system. For example, Comet 3I/ATLAS has a broadly similar chemical composition and ejected dust. The featured image was captured last week from Texas and shows a green coma, a wandering blue-tinted ion tail likely deflected by our Sun's wind, and a slight anti-tail, all typical cometary attributes. The comet, visible with a telescope, passed its closest to the Sun in late October and will pass its closest to the Earth in mid-December, after which it will return to interstellar space and never return.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3I/ATLAS
https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news/3i-atlas-not-aliens
https://science.nasa.gov/blogs/planetary-defense/2025/07/02/nasa-discovers-interstellar-comet-moving-through-solar-system/
https://www.npr.org/2022/04/14/1092869771/interstellar-meteor-hit-earth-in-2014
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1I/%CA%BBOumuamua
https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/solar-system-facts/
https://sci.esa.int/web/ulysses/-/35853-the-flow-of-interstellar-helium-in-the-solar-system
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap241222.html

https://astronomy.swin.edu.au/cosmos/c/Cometary+Gas+Tail
https://www.science.org/content/article/why-do-some-comets-glow-green
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comet_tail#Anti-tail
https://science.nasa.gov/sun/what-is-the-solar-wind/

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap220305.html
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap090207.html
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap200606.html
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap231020.html
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap231126.html

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap251201.html

#space #comets #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #NASA #ESA #apod

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2025 December 1 A starfield is shown around a comet. The green coma of the comet is on the lower left. A meandering blue-tinted tail goes off to the upper right. A slight anti-tail is seen from the coma toward the lower left. 3I ATLAS: Tails of an Interstellar Comet * Image Credit & Copyright: Victor Sabet & Julien De Winter Explanation: How typical is our Solar System? Studying 3I/ATLAS, a comet just passing through, is providing clues. Confirmed previous interstellar visitors include an asteroid, a comet, a meteor, and a gas wind dominated by hydrogen and helium. Comet 3I/ATLAS appears relatively normal when compared to Solar System comets, therefore providing more evidence that our Solar System is a somewhat typical star system. For example, Comet 3I/ATLAS has a broadly similar chemical composition and ejected dust. The featured image was captured last week from Texas and shows a green coma, a wandering blue-tinted ion tail likely deflected by our Sun's wind, and a slight anti-tail, all typical cometary attributes. The comet, visible with a telescope, passed its closest to the Sun in late October and will pass its closest to the Earth in mid-December, after which it will return to interstellar space and never return. Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply. NASA Web Privacy, Accessibility, Notices; A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC, NASA Science Activation & Michigan Tech. U.

2013 December 20

Titan's Land of Lakes
* Image Credit: Cassini Radar Mapper, JPL, USGS, ESA, NASA
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/spacecraft/cassiniorbiterinstruments/instrumentscassiniradar/
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/
http://astrogeology.usgs.gov/
http://www.esa.int/
http://www.nasa.gov/

Explanation:
Saturn's large moon Titan would be unique in our solar system, the only world with stable liquid lakes and seas on its surface ... except for planet Earth of course. Centered on the north pole, this colorized map shows Titan's bodies of methane and ethane in blue and black, still liquid at frigid surface temperatures of -180 degrees C (-292 degrees F). The map is based on data from the Cassini spacecraft's radar, taken during flybys between 2004 and 2013. Roughly heart-shaped, the lake above and right of the pole is Ligeia Mare, the second largest known body of liquid on Titan and larger than Lake Superior on Earth. Just below the north pole is Punga Mare. The sprawling sea below and right of Punga is the (hopefully sleeping) Kraken Mare, Titan's largest known sea. Above and left of the pole, the moon's surface is dotted with smalle
https://science.nasa.gov/photojournal/titans-north/
https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/planets/
https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Life_Without_Water_And_The_Habitable_Zone_999.html
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap120515.html
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap110401.html
https://science.nasa.gov/science-missions/
https://science.nasa.gov/photojournal/
https://www.planetary.org/articles/20130527-the-shores-of-the-kraken-sea
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap050117.html

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap131220.html

#space #moon #Enceladus #saturn #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #NASA #ESA

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2013 December 20 Titan's Land of Lakes * Image Credit: Cassini Radar Mapper, JPL, USGS, ESA, NASA Explanation: Saturn's large moon Titan would be unique in our solar system, the only world with stable liquid lakes and seas on its surface ... except for planet Earth of course. Centered on the north pole, this colorized map shows Titan's bodies of methane and ethane in blue and black, still liquid at frigid surface temperatures of -180 degrees C (-292 degrees F). The map is based on data from the Cassini spacecraft's radar, taken during flybys between 2004 and 2013. Roughly heart-shaped, the lake above and right of the pole is Ligeia Mare, the second largest known body of liquid on Titan and larger than Lake Superior on Earth. Just below the north pole is Punga Mare. The sprawling sea below and right of Punga is the (hopefully sleeping) Kraken Mare, Titan's largest known sea. Above and left of the pole, the moon's surface is dotted with smaller lakes that range up to 50 kilometers across. Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply. NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC & Michigan Tech. U.

Titan Touchdown: Huygens Descent Movie
* Video Credit: ESA, NASA, JPL, U. Arizona, E. Karkoschka
https://www.esa.int/
https://www.nasa.gov/
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/
https://www.lpl.arizona.edu/missions/cassini
https://www.lpl.arizona.edu/research-scientists/erich-karkoschka

Explanation:
What would it look like to land on Saturn's moon Titan? The European Space Agency's Huygens probe set down on the Solar System's cloudiest moon in 2005, and a time-lapse video of its descent images was created. Huygens separated from the robotic Cassini spacecraft soon after it achieved orbit around Saturn in late 2004 and began approaching Titan. For two hours after arriving, Huygens plummeted toward Titan's surface, recording at first only the shrouded moon's opaque atmosphere. The computerized truck-tire sized probe soon deployed a parachute to slow its descent, pierced the thick clouds, and began transmitting images of a strange surface far below never before seen in visible light. Landing in a dried sea and surviving for 90 minutes, Huygen's returned unique images of a strange plain of dark sandy soil strewn with smooth, bright, fist-sized rocks of ice.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huygens_%28spacecraft%29
https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Cassini-Huygens/Huygens_spacecraft
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap050117.html
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap041028.html

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250119.html

#space #moon #Titan #saturn #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #NASA #ESA

Titan Facts

Titan is Saturn's largest moon, and the only moon in our solar system known to have a substantial atmosphere. Titan is the only place besides Earth known to have liquids on its surface. It has clouds, rain, rivers, lakes and seas of liquid hydrocarbons like methane and ethane.

Introduction
Saturn's largest moon, Titan, is an icy world whose surface is completely obscured by a golden hazy atmosphere. Titan is the second largest moon in our solar system. Only Jupiter's moon Ganymede is larger, by just 2 percent. Titan is bigger than Earth's moon, and larger than even the planet Mercury.

This mammoth moon is the only moon in the solar system with a dense atmosphere, and it’s the only world besides Earth that has standing bodies of liquid, including rivers, lakes and seas, on its surface. Like Earth, Titan’s atmosphere is primarily nitrogen, plus a small amount of methane. It is the sole other place in the solar system known to have an earthlike cycle of liquids raining from clouds, flowing across its surface, filling lakes and seas, and evaporating back into the sky (akin to Earth’s water cycle). Titan is also thought to have a subsurface ocean of water.

Namesake
Dutch astronomer Christiaan Huygens discovered Titan on March 25, 1655.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christiaan_Huygens
Huygens called his discovery "Luna Saturni," which is Latin for Saturn moon. The name Titan came from John Herschel, son of astronomer William Herschel. Titans are from Greek mythology.

>> there is more >>
https://science.nasa.gov/saturn/moons/titan/facts/

#space #moon #titan #astrophotography #astronomy #science #NASA

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Titan passes in front of Saturn in this image from NASA's Cassini spacecraft. The colorful globe of Saturn's largest moon, Titan, passes in front of the planet and its rings in this true color snapshot from NASA's Cassini spacecraft. NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute Titan Facts Titan is Saturn's largest moon, and the only moon in our solar system known to have a substantial atmosphere. Titan is the only place besides Earth known to have liquids on its surface. It has clouds, rain, rivers, lakes and seas of liquid hydrocarbons like methane and ethane.

Potentially Habitable Moons
* Image Credit: Research and compilation - René Heller (McMaster Univ.) et al.
https://arxiv.org/search/astro-ph?searchtype=author&query=Heller,+R
Panels - NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute - Copyright: Ted Stryk
https://planetimages.blogspot.com/

Explanation:
For astrobiologists, these may be the four most tantalizing moons in our Solar System. Shown at the same scale, their exploration by interplanetary spacecraft has launched the idea that moons, not just planets, could have environments supporting life. The Galileo mission to Jupiter discovered Europa's global subsurface ocean of liquid water and indications of Ganymede's interior seas. At Saturn, the Cassini probe detected erupting fountains of water ice from Enceladus indicating warmer subsurface water on even that small moon, while finding surface lakes of frigid but still liquid hydrocarbons beneath the dense atmosphere of large moon Titan. Now looking beyond the Solar System, new research suggests that sizable exomoons, could actually outnumber exoplanets in stellar habitable zones. That would make moons the most common type of habitable world in the Universe.
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap140919.html

Formation, Habitability, and Detection of Extrasolar Moons

The diversity and quantity of moons in the Solar System suggest a manifold population of natural satellites exist around extrasolar planets. Of peculiar interest from an astrobiological perspective, the number of sizable moons in the stellar habitable zones may outnumber planets in these circumstellar regions. With technological and theoretical methods now allowing for the detection of sub-Earth-sized extrasolar planets, the first detection of an extrasolar moon appears feasible. ..
>>
https://arxiv.org/abs/1408.6164

#space #moon #titan #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #astrobioligy #nature #NASA

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Potentially Habitable Moons * Image Credit: Research and compilation - René Heller (McMaster Univ.) et al. Panels - NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute - Copyright: Ted Stryk Explanation: For astrobiologists, these may be the four most tantalizing moons in our Solar System. Shown at the same scale, their exploration by interplanetary spacecraft has launched the idea that moons, not just planets, could have environments supporting life. The Galileo mission to Jupiter discovered Europa's global subsurface ocean of liquid water and indications of Ganymede's interior seas. At Saturn, the Cassini probe detected erupting fountains of water ice from Enceladus indicating warmer subsurface water on even that small moon, while finding surface lakes of frigid but still liquid hydrocarbons beneath the dense atmosphere of large moon Titan. Now looking beyond the Solar System, new research suggests that sizable exomoons, could actually outnumber exoplanets in stellar habitable zones. That would make moons the most common type of habitable world in the Universe. Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply. NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC & Michigan Tech. U.

Remember the Titan (Landing): Twenty years ago today, Jan. 14, 2005, the Huygens probe touched down on Saturn's largest moon, Titan.

This new, narrated movie was created with data collected by Cassini's imaging cameras and the Huygens Descent Imager/Spectral Radiometer (DISR). The first minute shows a zoom into images of Titan from Cassini's cameras, while the remainder of the movie depicts the view from Huygens during the last few hours of its historic descent and landing.

It was October 15, 1997, when NASA's Cassini orbiter embarked on an epic, seven-year voyage to the Saturnian system. Hitching a ride was ESA's Huygens probe, destined for Saturn's largest moon, Titan. The final chapter of the interplanetary trek for Huygens began on 25 December 2004 when it deployed from the orbiter for a 21-day solo cruise toward the haze-shrouded moon. Plunging into Titan's atmosphere, on January 14 2005, the probe survived the hazardous 2 hour 27 minute descent to touch down safely on Titan’s frozen surface. Today, the Cassini spacecraft remains in orbit at Saturn. Its mission will end in 2017, 20 years after its journey began. More information and images from the mission at http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov

#space #moon #titan #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #NASA

2025 July 24

Titan Shadow Transit
* Image Credit & Copyright: Volodymyr Andrienko

Explanation:
Every 15 years or so, Saturn's rings are tilted edge-on to our line of sight. As the bright, beautiful ring system grows narrower and fainter it becomes increasingly difficult to see for denizens of planet Earth. But it does provide the opportunity to watch transits of Saturn's moons and their dark shadows across the ringed gas giant's still bright disk. Of course Saturn's largest moon Titan is the easiest to spot in transit. In this telescopic snapshot from July 18, Titan itself is at the upper left, casting a round dark shadow on Saturn's banded cloudtops above the narrow rings. In fact Titan's transit season is in full swing now with shadow transits every 16 days corresponding to the moon's orbital period. Its final shadow transit will be on October 6, though Titan's pale disk will continue to cross in front of Saturn as seen from telescopes on planet Earth every 16 days through January 25, 2026.

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250724.html

#space #moon #titan #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #NASA

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2025 July 24 Titan Shadow Transit * Image Credit & Copyright: Volodymyr Andrienko Explanation: Every 15 years or so, Saturn's rings are tilted edge-on to our line of sight. As the bright, beautiful ring system grows narrower and fainter it becomes increasingly difficult to see for denizens of planet Earth. But it does provide the opportunity to watch transits of Saturn's moons and their dark shadows across the ringed gas giant's still bright disk. Of course Saturn's largest moon Titan is the easiest to spot in transit. In this telescopic snapshot from July 18, Titan itself is at the upper left, casting a round dark shadow on Saturn's banded cloudtops above the narrow rings. In fact Titan's transit season is in full swing now with shadow transits every 16 days corresponding to the moon's orbital period. Its final shadow transit will be on October 6, though Titan's pale disk will continue to cross in front of Saturn as seen from telescopes on planet Earth every 16 days through January 25, 2026. Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply. NASA Web Privacy, Accessibility, Notices; A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC, NASA Science Activation & Michigan Tech. U.

Titan Shadow Transit Season Underway

By Bob King

[...]
Titan transits occur only during the relatively brief time Earth and Saturn both lie nearly on the same plane, which coincides with when the rings appear approximately edge-on. Currently, we see the rings' south side, with the ring plane tilted between 2.7° (May 14th) and 3.2° (May 31st). The rings have been difficult to tease out since the planet's return to the morning sky. Not only have they been backlit by the Sun until recently, but Saturn also continues to lay low in the eastern sky at dawn, especially from mid-northern latitudes. Poor seeing coupled with bright twilight have made it difficult to discern much more than a pale-yellow ball. I finally succeeded on May 14th, when the rings flickered in and out of sight in my 10-inch Dob at 168×. They were nothing short of wispy — on the verge of invisibility.

Shadow transits are common at Jupiter, and they occur when one (or more) of the four Galilean satellites casts its shadow on the gas giant's cloud tops. The size of the dark spot is closely related to the size of the moon. Ganymede is the largest, with an apparent diameter of about 1.7″, and Europa the smallest at about 1.0″. Through the telescope, Ganymede's shadow is a definitive black dot, while Europa looks more like a pinpoint.
[...]

https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/titan-shadow-transit-season-underway/

#space #moon #titan #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #NASA

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The last Titan shadow transit series took place in 2009. Amateur astronomer Bill Weir made this sketch of Titan's shadow on April 13th that year, using a 6-inch f/8 telescope and magnification of 240×. Bill Weir

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Titan (smaller pale spot to left) and its dark shadow cross Saturn's disk on February 24, 2009, in this photo made with the 24-inch RCOS telescope at the University of Arizona SkyCenter on Mount Lemmon. Dione appears above the ring plane at left. CREDIT Sid Leach, Adam Block, and Francisco Arabia

[...]
Saturn's moons likewise cast shadows, with Titan's the easiest to see because it's the largest, with an apparent diameter of 0.8″at opposition on September 21st. This means you'll want to use at least a 3-inch telescope and magnification of 200× or more to discern the inky speck. At times, both moon and shadow will occupy the disk simultaneously. Titan itself appears somewhat smaller than its shadow and paler in tone. Even after the shadow portion of the transit series ends on October 6th, you can continue to observe the moon pass in front of Saturn every 16 days, through January 25, 2026.

When the current transit series began last November, timing favored Eastern Hemisphere observers. Now through early October, skywatchers in the Americas will get a crack at the shadow. Most of the transits occur after midnight, especially for the eastern half of the U.S. The table above lists the Universal Times (UT) of the start, midpoint, and end of each event. To convert to local times, use this UTC time zone converter https://dateful.com/convert/utc.
Notice that the transits occur every 16 days, which is Titan's orbital period.

Titan and its shadow gradually migrate northward across Saturn's oblate disk this spring and summer. The May 15th transit occurs across the planet's Equatorial Zone (EZ) and lasts nearly 6 hours. But on October 6th, when Titan's shadow nibbles the northern limb, the event lasts only about 2 hours.
[...]

Exerpt from:
"Titan Shadow Transit Season Underway"
By Bob King

https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/titan-shadow-transit-season-underway/

#space #moon #titan #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #NASA

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These simulated views show Titan's shadow at mid-transit on the dates indicated. The shadow migrates north during the time, finally departing the disk after October 6th. Diagrams created with WinJUPOS Upcoming titan shadow transits (UT) Date Start Mid-transit End May 15 9:49 12:59 15:44 May 31 9:05 12:12 14:53 June 16 8:21 11:24 14:00 July 2 7:40 10:35 13:03 July 18 7:00 9:44 12:05 Aug. 3 6:25 8:52 11:04 Aug. 19 5:52 8:01 10:00 Sept. 4 5:25 7:09 8:50 Sept. 20 5:09 6:20 7:34 Oct. 6 5:32* Start and end times are when Titan's full shadow is first and last visible entering and exiting Saturn's disk, respectively. * Full shadow on disk only at mid-transit

2009 March 19

Saturn: Moons in Transit
* Credit: NASA, ESA, Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)
http://www.nasa.gov/
http://www.spacetelescope.org/
http://heritage.stsci.edu/
* Acknowledgment: M.H. Wong (STScI/UC Berkeley), C. Go (Philippines)
https://www.stsci.edu/contents/news-releases/2024/news-2024-401?user=birkmann

Explanation:
Every 14 to 15 years, Saturn's rings are tilted edge-on to our line of sight. As the bright, beautiful rings seem to grow narrower it becomes increasingly difficult to see them, even with large telescopes. But it does provide the opportunity to watch multiple transits of Saturn's moons. During a transit, a sunlit moon and its shadow glide across the cloudy face of the gas giant. Recorded on February 24, this Hubble image is part of a sequence showing the transit of four of Saturn's moons. From left to right are Enceladus and shadow, Dione and shadow, and Saturn's largest moon Titan. Small moon Mimas is just touching Saturn's disk near the ring plane at the far right. The shadows of Titan and Mimas have both moved off the right side of the disk. Saturn itself has an equatorial diameter of about 120,000 kilometers.

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap090319.html

#space #moon #titan #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #NASA

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2009 March 19 Saturn: Moons in Transit * Credit: NASA, ESA, Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA) * Acknowledgment: M.H. Wong (STScI/UC Berkeley), C. Go (Philippines) Explanation: Every 14 to 15 years, Saturn's rings are tilted edge-on to our line of sight. As the bright, beautiful rings seem to grow narrower it becomes increasingly difficult to see them, even with large telescopes. But it does provide the opportunity to watch multiple transits of Saturn's moons. During a transit, a sunlit moon and its shadow glide across the cloudy face of the gas giant. Recorded on February 24, this Hubble image is part of a sequence showing the transit of four of Saturn's moons. From left to right are Enceladus and shadow, Dione and shadow, and Saturn's largest moon Titan. Small moon Mimas is just touching Saturn's disk near the ring plane at the far right. The shadows of Titan and Mimas have both moved off the right side of the disk. Saturn itself has an equatorial diameter of about 120,000 kilometers. Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply. NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC & Michigan Tech. U.

2005 October 21

Ringside
* Credit : Cassini Imaging Team, SSI, JPL, ESA, NASA
http://ciclops.org/
http://www.spacescience.org/
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/
http://www.esa.int/
http://www.nasa.gov/home/index.html

Explanation:
Orbiting in the plane of Saturn's rings, Dione and the other icy saturnian moons have a perpetual ringside view of the gorgeous gas giant planet. Of course, while passing through the ring plane the Cassini spacecraft also shares their stunning perspective. The rings themselves can be seen slicing across the bottom of this Cassini snapshot. Remarkably thin, the bright rings still cast arcing shadows across the planet's cloud tops. Pale Dione, in the foreground, is about 1,100 kilometers across and orbits over 300,000 kilometers from the visible outer edge of the A ring.

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap051021.html

#space #moon #Dione #saturn #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #NASA

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2005 October 21 Ringside * Credit : Cassini Imaging Team, SSI, JPL, ESA, NASA Explanation: Orbiting in the plane of Saturn's rings, Dione and the other icy saturnian moons have a perpetual ringside view of the gorgeous gas giant planet. Of course, while passing through the ring plane the Cassini spacecraft also shares their stunning perspective. The rings themselves can be seen slicing across the bottom of this Cassini snapshot. Remarkably thin, the bright rings still cast arcing shadows across the planet's cloud tops. Pale Dione, in the foreground, is about 1,100 kilometers across and orbits over 300,000 kilometers from the visible outer edge of the A ring. 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: EUD at NASA / GSFC & Michigan Tech. U.

2015 August 24

Dione, Rings, Shadows, Saturn
* Credit : Cassini Imaging Team, SSI, JPL, ESA, NASA
http://ciclops.org/
http://www.spacescience.org/
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/
http://www.esa.int/
http://www.nasa.gov/home/index.html

Explanation:
What's happening in this strange juxtaposition of moon and planet? First and foremost, Saturn's moon Dione was captured here in a dramatic panorama by the robotic Cassini spacecraft currently orbiting the giant planet. The bright and cratered moon itself spans about 1100-km, with the large multi-ringed crater Evander visible on the lower right. Since the rings of Saturn are seen here nearly edge-on, they are directly visible only as a thin horizontal line that passes behind Dione. Arcing across the bottom of the image, however, are shadows of Saturn's rings, showing some of the rich texture that could not be seen directly. In the background, few cloud features are visible on Saturn. The featured image was taken during the last planned flyby of Dione by Cassini, as the spacecraft is scheduled to dive into Saturn's atmosphere during 2017.

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap150824.html

#space #moon #Dione #Saturn #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #NASA

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2015 August 24 Dione, Rings, Shadows, Saturn * Image Credit: Cassini Imaging Team, SSI, JPL, ESA, NASA Explanation: What's happening in this strange juxtaposition of moon and planet? First and foremost, Saturn's moon Dione was captured here in a dramatic panorama by the robotic Cassini spacecraft currently orbiting the giant planet. The bright and cratered moon itself spans about 1100-km, with the large multi-ringed crater Evander visible on the lower right. Since the rings of Saturn are seen here nearly edge-on, they are directly visible only as a thin horizontal line that passes behind Dione. Arcing across the bottom of the image, however, are shadows of Saturn's rings, showing some of the rich texture that could not be seen directly. In the background, few cloud features are visible on Saturn. The featured image was taken during the last planned flyby of Dione by Cassini, as the spacecraft is scheduled to dive into Saturn's atmosphere during 2017. Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply. NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC & Michigan Tech. U.

2015 July 8

In the Company of Dione
* Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute
http://www.nasa.gov/
http://www.spacescience.org/index.php

Explanation:
That is not our Moon. It's Dione, and it's a moon of Saturn. The robotic Cassini spacecraft took the featured image during a flyby of Saturn's cratered Moon last month. Perhaps what makes this image so interesting, though, is the background. First, the large orb looming behind Dione is Saturn itself, faintly lit by sunlight first reflected from the rings. Next, the thin lines running diagonally across the image are the rings of Saturn themselves. The millions of icy rocks that compose Saturn's spectacular rings all orbit Saturn in the same plane, and so appear surprisingly thin when seen nearly edge-on. Front and center, Dione appears in crescent phase, partially lit by the Sun that is off to the lower left. A careful inspection of the ring plane should also locate the moon Enceladus on the upper right.

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap150708.html

#space #moon #Dione #saturn #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #NASA

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2015 July 8 In the Company of Dione * Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute Explanation: That is not our Moon. It's Dione, and it's a moon of Saturn. The robotic Cassini spacecraft took the featured image during a flyby of Saturn's cratered Moon last month. Perhaps what makes this image so interesting, though, is the background. First, the large orb looming behind Dione is Saturn itself, faintly lit by sunlight first reflected from the rings. Next, the thin lines running diagonally across the image are the rings of Saturn themselves. The millions of icy rocks that compose Saturn's spectacular rings all orbit Saturn in the same plane, and so appear surprisingly thin when seen nearly edge-on. Front and center, Dione appears in crescent phase, partially lit by the Sun that is off to the lower left. A careful inspection of the ring plane should also locate the moon Enceladus on the upper right. Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply. NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC & Michigan Tech. U.

2025 June 10

Enceladus in True Color
* Image Credit: NASA, ESA, JPL, SSI, Cassini Imaging Team
http://ciclops.org/
http://www.spacescience.org/
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/
http://www.esa.int/
http://www.nasa.gov/home/index.html

Explanation:
Do oceans under the ice of Saturn's moon Enceladus contain life? A reason to think so involves long features -- some dubbed tiger stripes -- that are known to be spewing ice from the moon's icy interior into space. These surface cracks create clouds of fine ice particles over the moon's South Pole and create Saturn's mysterious E-ring. Evidence for this has come from the robot Cassini spacecraft that orbited Saturn from 2004 to 2017. Pictured here, a high resolution image of Enceladus is shown in true color from a close flyby. The deep crevasses are partly shadowed. Why Enceladus is active remains a mystery, as the neighboring moon Mimas, approximately the same size, appears quite dead. An analysis of ejected ice grains has yielded evidence that complex organic molecules exist inside Enceladus. These large carbon-rich molecules bolster -- but do not prove -- that oceans under Enceladus' surface could contain life.
https://science.nasa.gov/saturn/moons/enceladus/

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250610.html

#space #moon #Enceladus #saturn #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #NASA

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2025 June 10 Enceladus in True Color * Image Credit: NASA, ESA, JPL, SSI, Cassini Imaging Team Explanation: Do oceans under the ice of Saturn's moon Enceladus contain life? A reason to think so involves long features -- some dubbed tiger stripes -- that are known to be spewing ice from the moon's icy interior into space. These surface cracks create clouds of fine ice particles over the moon's South Pole and create Saturn's mysterious E-ring. Evidence for this has come from the robot Cassini spacecraft that orbited Saturn from 2004 to 2017. Pictured here, a high resolution image of Enceladus is shown in true color from a close flyby. The deep crevasses are partly shadowed. Why Enceladus is active remains a mystery, as the neighboring moon Mimas, approximately the same size, appears quite dead. An analysis of ejected ice grains has yielded evidence that complex organic molecules exist inside Enceladus. These large carbon-rich molecules bolster -- but do not prove -- that oceans under Enceladus' surface could contain life. Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply. NASA Web Privacy, Accessibility, Notices; A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC, NASA Science Activation & Michigan Tech. U.

2007 October 13

Enceladus Ice Geysers
* Credit : Cassini Imaging Team, SSI, JPL, ESA, NASA
http://ciclops.org/
http://www.spacescience.org/
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/
http://www.esa.int/
http://www.nasa.gov/home/index.html

Explanation:
Ice geysers erupt on Enceladus, bright and shiny inner moon of Saturn. Shown in this false-color image, a backlit view of the moon's southern limb, the majestic, icy plumes were discovered by instruments on the Cassini Spacecraft during close encounters with Enceladus in November of 2005. Eight source locations for these geysers have now been identified along substantial surface fractures in the moon's south polar region. Researchers suspect the geysers arise from near-surface pockets of liquid water with temperatures near 273 kelvins (0 degrees C). That's hot when compared to the distant moon's surface temperature of 73 kelvins (-200 degrees C). The cryovolcanism is a dramatic sign that tiny, 500km-diameter Enceladus is surprisingly active. Enceladus ice geysers also likely produce Saturn's faint but extended E ring.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enceladus

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap071013.html

#space #moon #Enceladus #saturn #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #NASA

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2007 October 13 Enceladus Ice Geysers * Credit: Cassini Imaging Team, SSI, JPL, ESA, NASA Explanation: Ice geysers erupt on Enceladus, bright and shiny inner moon of Saturn. Shown in this false-color image, a backlit view of the moon's southern limb, the majestic, icy plumes were discovered by instruments on the Cassini Spacecraft during close encounters with Enceladus in November of 2005. Eight source locations for these geysers have now been identified along substantial surface fractures in the moon's south polar region. Researchers suspect the geysers arise from near-surface pockets of liquid water with temperatures near 273 kelvins (0 degrees C). That's hot when compared to the distant moon's surface temperature of 73 kelvins (-200 degrees C). The cryovolcanism is a dramatic sign that tiny, 500km-diameter Enceladus is surprisingly active. Enceladus ice geysers also likely produce Saturn's faint but extended E ring. Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply. NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC & Michigan Tech. U.

2025 November 30

The Surface of Titan from Huygens
* Image Credit: ESA, NASA, JPL, U. Arizona, Huygens Lander
https://www.esa.int/
https://www.nasa.gov/
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/
https://www.lpl.arizona.edu/research/titan-outer-solar-system
https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Cassini-Huygens/Huygens_spacecraft

Explanation:
If you could stand on Titan -- what would you see? The featured color view from Titan gazes across an unfamiliar and distant landscape on Saturn's largest moon. The scene was recorded by ESA's Huygens probe in 2005 after a 2.5-hour descent through a thick atmosphere of nitrogen laced with methane. Bathed in an eerie orange light at ground level, rocks strewn about the scene could well be composed of water and hydrocarbons frozen solid at an inhospitable temperature of negative 179 degrees C. The large light-toned rock below and left of center is only about 15 centimeters across and lies 85 centimeters away. The saucer-shaped spacecraft is believed to have penetrated about 15 centimeters into a place on Titan's surface that had the consistency of wet sand or clay. Huygen's batteries enabled the probe to take and transmit data for more than 90 minutes after landing. Titan's bizarre chemical environment may bear similarities to planet Earth's before life evolved.
https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Cassini-Huygens/New_images_from_Titan#subhead2
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titan_(moon)
https://www.esa.int/
https://science.nasa.gov/mission/cassini-huygens/
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250119.html
https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/titans-surface-organics-surpass-oil-reserves-on-earth/
https://science.nasa.gov/mission/cassini-huygens/
https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Cassini-Huygens/Life_on_Titan

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap251129.html

#space #saturn #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #physics #nature #NASA #ESA #education #apod

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2025 November 30 A strange orange landscape is shown. What appears to be light and dark orange rocks are strewn about. The landscape appears roughly flat all the way out to the orange sky and horizon. The Surface of Titan from Huygens * Image Credit: ESA, NASA, JPL, U. Arizona, Huygens Lander Explanation: If you could stand on Titan -- what would you see? The featured color view from Titan gazes across an unfamiliar and distant landscape on Saturn's largest moon. The scene was recorded by ESA's Huygens probe in 2005 after a 2.5-hour descent through a thick atmosphere of nitrogen laced with methane. Bathed in an eerie orange light at ground level, rocks strewn about the scene could well be composed of water and hydrocarbons frozen solid at an inhospitable temperature of negative 179 degrees C. The large light-toned rock below and left of center is only about 15 centimeters across and lies 85 centimeters away. The saucer-shaped spacecraft is believed to have penetrated about 15 centimeters into a place on Titan's surface that had the consistency of wet sand or clay. Huygen's batteries enabled the probe to take and transmit data for more than 90 minutes after landing. Titan's bizarre chemical environment may bear similarities to planet Earth's before life evolved. Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.

"During the neo-Assyrian empire (8th–7th century BC), the ritual of the šar pūhi, or “substitute king,” was a common practice for protecting the ruler from angry gods during both solar and lunar eclipses, which court astronomers of the period could calculate with some degree of accuracy...."

(1/2)

#astronomy #ancienthistory #eclipses #solareclipse #lunareclipse #monarchy #religion

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Renaissance era painting of a famous event two thousand years earlier. Two people clutch each other fearfully as the eclipsed sun is visible through an arched window beside them

#science #wissenschaft #wissen #knowledge #astronomy #scinexx
#astronomie
Blick auf die explosivsten Sonnenflecken 2025
Sonnenteleskop zeigt Anbahnung des starken Sonnensturms vom 10./11. November 2025 🤓
https://www.scinexx.de/news/kosmos/blick-auf-die-explosivsten-sonnenflecken-2025/

#science #wissenschaft #wissen #knowledge #Astronomie #scinexx
#astronomy
Doch kein Wasser unterm Mars-Südpol?
Neue Radarmessung weckt Zweifel an subglazialen Salzwasserseen 🤓
https://www.scinexx.de/news/kosmos/doch-kein-wasser-unterm-mars-suedpol/

#science #wissenschaft #wissen #knowledge #Astronomie #scinexx
#astronomy
Ein Schmetterling im All
Wie ein sterbender Stern farbenprächtige Flügel bekam 🤓
https://www.scinexx.de/fotos/ein-schmetterling-im-all/

2025 November 29

Moon Games
* Image Credit & Copyright: Giorgia Hofer
https://www.giorgiahoferphotography.com/

Explanation:
This is not a screen from a video game. Nestled below the tree-line, the small mountain church does look like it might be hiding from Moon though. In the well-composed telephoto snapshot, taken on November 23, the church walls are partly reflecting light from terrestrial flood lights. Of course, the Moon is reflecting light from the Sun. At any given time the Sun illuminates fully half of the Moon's surface, also known as the lunar dayside, but on that night only a sliver of its sunlit surface was visible. About three days after New Moon, the Moon was in a waxing crescent phase. The single exposure was captured shortly after sunset in skies near Danta di Cadore, northern Italy, planet Earth.
https://www.giorgiahoferphotography.com/moon
https://moon.nasa.gov/moon-observation/daily-moon-guide/?intent=021
https://science.nasa.gov/moon/moon-phases/

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/fap/ap251129.html

#space #moon #apod #NASA #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #space_related #Space_Culture_Club

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2025 November 29 Moon Games * Image Credit & Copyright: Giorgia Hofer Explanation: This is not a screen from a video game. Nestled below the tree-line, the small mountain church does look like it might be hiding from Moon though. In the well-composed telephoto snapshot, taken on November 23, the church walls are partly reflecting light from terrestrial flood lights. Of course, the Moon is reflecting light from the Sun. At any given time the Sun illuminates fully half of the Moon's surface, also known as the lunar dayside, but on that night only a sliver of its sunlit surface was visible. About three days after New Moon, the Moon was in a waxing crescent phase. The single exposure was captured shortly after sunset in skies near Danta di Cadore, northern Italy, planet Earth. Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply. NASA Web Privacy, Accessibility, Notices; A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC, NASA Science Activation & Michigan Tech. U.

2006 March 24

When Roses Aren't Red
* Credit & Copyright: Jay Ballauer (All About Astro, 3RF)

Explanation:
Not all roses are red of course, but they can still be very pretty. Likewise, the beautiful Rosette Nebula and other star forming regions are often shown in astronomical images with a predominately red hue - in part because the dominant emission in the nebula is from hydrogen atoms. Hydrogen's strongest optical emission line, known as H-alpha, is in the red region of the spectrum, but the beauty of an emission nebula need not be appreciated in red light alone. Other atoms in the nebula are also excited by energetic starlight and produce narrow emission lines as well. In this gorgeous view of the Rosette's central regions, narrow band images are combined to show emission from sulfur atoms in red, hydrogen in blue, and oxygen in green. In fact, the scheme of mapping these narrow atomic emission lines into broader colors is adopted in many Hubble images of stellar nurseries. This image spans about 50 light-years in the constellation Monoceros, at the 3,000 light-year estimated distance of the Rosette Nebula.

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap060324.html

#space #nebula #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #physics #nature #NASA #ESA

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2006 March 24 When Roses Aren't Red * Credit & Copyright: Jay Ballauer (All About Astro, 3RF) Explanation: Not all roses are red of course, but they can still be very pretty. Likewise, the beautiful Rosette Nebula and other star forming regions are often shown in astronomical images with a predominately red hue - in part because the dominant emission in the nebula is from hydrogen atoms. Hydrogen's strongest optical emission line, known as H-alpha, is in the red region of the spectrum, but the beauty of an emission nebula need not be appreciated in red light alone. Other atoms in the nebula are also excited by energetic starlight and produce narrow emission lines as well. In this gorgeous view of the Rosette's central regions, narrow band images are combined to show emission from sulfur atoms in red, hydrogen in blue, and oxygen in green. In fact, the scheme of mapping these narrow atomic emission lines into broader colors is adopted in many Hubble images of stellar nurseries. This image spans about 50 light-years in the constellation Monoceros, at the 3,000 light-year estimated distance of the Rosette Nebula. 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: EUD at NASA / GSFC & Michigan Tech. U.

2015 January 13

The Soap Bubble Nebula
* Credit & Copyright: T. Rector (U. Alaska Anchorage), H. Schweiker (WIYN), NOAO, AURA, NSF
https://www.aura-astronomy.org/
https://www.nsf.gov/

Explanation:
Adrift in the rich star fields of the constellation Cygnus, this lovely, symmetric nebula was only recognized a few years ago and does not yet appear in some astronomical catalogs. In fact, amateur astronomer Dave Jurasevich identified it as a nebula on 2008 July 6 in his images of the complex Cygnus region that included the Crescent Nebula (NGC 6888). He subsequently notified the International Astronomical Union. Only eleven days later the same object was independently identified by Mel Helm at Sierra Remote Observatories, imaged by Keith Quattrocchi and Helm, and also submitted to the IAU as a potentially unknown nebula. The nebula, appearing on the left of the featured image, is now known as the Soap Bubble Nebula. What is the newly recognized nebula? Most probably it is a planetary nebula, a final phase in the life of a sun-like star.

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap150113.html

#space #nebula #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #physics #nature #NASA #ESA

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2015 January 13 The Soap Bubble Nebula * Credit & Copyright: T. Rector (U. Alaska Anchorage), H. Schweiker (WIYN), NOAO, AURA, NSF Explanation: Adrift in the rich star fields of the constellation Cygnus, this lovely, symmetric nebula was only recognized a few years ago and does not yet appear in some astronomical catalogs. In fact, amateur astronomer Dave Jurasevich identified it as a nebula on 2008 July 6 in his images of the complex Cygnus region that included the Crescent Nebula (NGC 6888). He subsequently notified the International Astronomical Union. Only eleven days later the same object was independently identified by Mel Helm at Sierra Remote Observatories, imaged by Keith Quattrocchi and Helm, and also submitted to the IAU as a potentially unknown nebula. The nebula, appearing on the left of the featured image, is now known as the Soap Bubble Nebula. What is the newly recognized nebula? Most probably it is a planetary nebula, a final phase in the life of a sun-like star. Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply. NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC & Michigan Tech. U.

2015 December 4

Cygnus: Bubble and Crescent
* Image Credit & Copyright: Ivan Eder
https://www.astroeder.com/

Explanation:
These clouds of gas and dust drift through rich star fields along the plane of our Milky Way Galaxy toward the high flying constellation Cygnus. Caught within the telescopic field of view are the Soap Bubble (lower left) and the Crescent Nebula (upper right). Both were formed at a final phase in the life of a star. Also known as NGC 6888, the Crescent was shaped as its bright, central massive Wolf-Rayet star, WR 136, shed its outer envelope in a strong stellar wind. Burning through fuel at a prodigious rate, WR 136 is near the end of a short life that should finish in a spectacular supernova explosion. recently discovered Soap Bubble Nebula is likely a planetary nebula, the final shroud of a lower mass, long-lived, sun-like star destined to become a slowly cooling white dwarf. While both are some 5,000 light-years or so distant, the larger Crescent Nebula is around 25 light-years across.
https://www.astroeder.com/ngc6888_bub_eder_en.html

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap151204.html

#space #nebula #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #physics #nature #NASA #ESA

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2015 December 4 Cygnus: Bubble and Crescent * Image Credit & Copyright: Ivan Eder Explanation: These clouds of gas and dust drift through rich star fields along the plane of our Milky Way Galaxy toward the high flying constellation Cygnus. Caught within the telescopic field of view are the Soap Bubble (lower left) and the Crescent Nebula (upper right). Both were formed at a final phase in the life of a star. Also known as NGC 6888, the Crescent was shaped as its bright, central massive Wolf-Rayet star, WR 136, shed its outer envelope in a strong stellar wind. Burning through fuel at a prodigious rate, WR 136 is near the end of a short life that should finish in a spectacular supernova explosion. recently discovered Soap Bubble Nebula is likely a planetary nebula, the final shroud of a lower mass, long-lived, sun-like star destined to become a slowly cooling white dwarf. While both are some 5,000 light-years or so distant, the larger Crescent Nebula is around 25 light-years across. Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply. NASA Web Privacy, Accessibility, Notices; A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC, NASA Science Activation & Michigan Tech. U.

2012 August 16

NGC 6888: The Crescent Nebula
* Image Credit & Copyright: J-P Metsävainio (Astro Anarchy)
https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/

Explanation:
NGC 6888, also known as the Crescent Nebula, is a cosmic bubble about 25 light-years across, blown by winds from its central, bright, massive star. This colorful portrait of the nebula uses narrow band image data combined in the Hubble palette. It shows emission from sulfur, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms in the wind-blown nebula in red, green and blue hues. NGC 6888's central star is classified as a Wolf-Rayet star (WR 136). The star is shedding its outer envelope in a strong stellar wind, ejecting the equivalent of the Sun's mass every 10,000 years. The nebula's complex structures are likely the result of this strong wind interacting with material ejected in an earlier phase. Burning fuel at a prodigious rate and near the end of its stellar life this star should ultimately go out with a bang in a spectacular supernova explosion. Found in the nebula rich constellation Cygnus, NGC 6888 is about 5,000 light-years away.
https://astroanarchy.blogspot.com/2011/01/ngc-6888-crescent-nebula-reprocessed.html
http://hubblesite.org/gallery/behind_the_pictures/meaning_of_color/eagle.php
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap080424.html
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap060430.html

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap120816.html

#space #nebula #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #physics #nature #NASA #ESA

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2012 August 16 NGC 6888: The Crescent Nebula * Image Credit & Copyright: J-P Metsävainio (Astro Anarchy) Explanation: NGC 6888, also known as the Crescent Nebula, is a cosmic bubble about 25 light-years across, blown by winds from its central, bright, massive star. This colorful portrait of the nebula uses narrow band image data combined in the Hubble palette. It shows emission from sulfur, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms in the wind-blown nebula in red, green and blue hues. NGC 6888's central star is classified as a Wolf-Rayet star (WR 136). The star is shedding its outer envelope in a strong stellar wind, ejecting the equivalent of the Sun's mass every 10,000 years. The nebula's complex structures are likely the result of this strong wind interacting with material ejected in an earlier phase. Burning fuel at a prodigious rate and near the end of its stellar life this star should ultimately go out with a bang in a spectacular supernova explosion. Found in the nebula rich constellation Cygnus, NGC 6888 is about 5,000 light-years away. Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply. NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC & Michigan Tech. U.

2025 November 28

NGC 6888: The Crescent Nebula
* Image Credit & Copyright: Greg Bass
https://app.astrobin.com/u/1loosetooth#gallery

Explanation:
NGC 6888, also known as the Crescent Nebula, is a about 25 light-years across, a cosmic bubble blown by winds from its central, massive star. This deep telescopic image includes narrowband image data, to isolate light from hydrogen and oxygen atoms. The oxygen atoms produce the blue-green hue that seems to enshroud the nebula's detailed folds and filaments. Visible within the nebula, NGC 6888's central star is classified as a Wolf-Rayet star (WR 136). The star is shedding its outer envelope in a strong stellar wind, ejecting the equivalent of the Sun's mass every 10,000 years. In fact, the Crescent Nebula's complex structures are likely the result of this strong wind interacting with material ejected in an earlier phase. Burning fuel at a prodigious rate and near the end of its stellar life, this star should ultimately go out with a bang in a spectacular supernova explosion. Found in the nebula rich constellation Cygnus, NGC 6888 is about 5,000 light-years away.
https://app.astrobin.com/i/8p42ig
https://science.nasa.gov/missions/hubble/hubble-watches-star-tear-apart-its-neighborhood/
http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/~pberlind/atlas/htmls/wrstars.html
https://oneminuteastronomer.com/5995/crescent-nebula-ngc-6888/
http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2003/ngc6888/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf%E2%80%93Rayet_star#Supernovae
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stellar_wind

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/fap/ap251128.html

#space #nebula #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #physics #nature #NASA #ESA #apod

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2025 November 28 NGC 6888: The Crescent Nebula * Image Credit & Copyright: Greg Bass Explanation: NGC 6888, also known as the Crescent Nebula, is a about 25 light-years across, a cosmic bubble blown by winds from its central, massive star. This deep telescopic image includes narrowband image data, to isolate light from hydrogen and oxygen atoms. The oxygen atoms produce the blue-green hue that seems to enshroud the nebula's detailed folds and filaments. Visible within the nebula, NGC 6888's central star is classified as a Wolf-Rayet star (WR 136). The star is shedding its outer envelope in a strong stellar wind, ejecting the equivalent of the Sun's mass every 10,000 years. In fact, the Crescent Nebula's complex structures are likely the result of this strong wind interacting with material ejected in an earlier phase. Burning fuel at a prodigious rate and near the end of its stellar life, this star should ultimately go out with a bang in a spectacular supernova explosion. Found in the nebula rich constellation Cygnus, NGC 6888 is about 5,000 light-years away. Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply. NASA Web Privacy, Accessibility, Notices; A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC, NASA Science Activation & Michigan Tech. U.

2016 September 9

The Wide and Deep Lagoon
* Image Credit & Copyright: Michael Miller, Jimmy Walker
http://www.remarkableheavens.com/
https://www.darkskywalker.com/

Explanation:
Ridges of glowing interstellar gas and dark dust clouds inhabit the turbulent, cosmic depths of the Lagoon Nebula. Also known as M8, the bright star forming region is about 5,000 light-years distant. But it still makes for a popular stop on telescopic tours of the constellation Sagittarius, toward the center of our Milky Way Galaxy. Dominated by the telltale red emission of ionized hydrogen atoms recombining with stripped electrons, this stunning, deep view of the Lagoon is nearly 100 light-years across. Right of center, the bright, compact, hourglass shape is gas ionized and sculpted by energetic radiation and extreme stellar winds from a massive young star. In fact, the many bright stars of open cluster NGC 6530 drift within the nebula, just formed in the Lagoon several million years ago.
https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap141125.html
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap140820.html
https://arxiv.org/abs/1311.1201
https://arxiv.org/abs/1209.0898

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap160909.html

#space #nebula #astrophotography #photography #science #astronomy #nature #NASA #ESA

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2016 September 9 The Wide and Deep Lagoon * Image Credit & Copyright: Michael Miller, Jimmy Walker Explanation: Ridges of glowing interstellar gas and dark dust clouds inhabit the turbulent, cosmic depths of the Lagoon Nebula. Also known as M8, the bright star forming region is about 5,000 light-years distant. But it still makes for a popular stop on telescopic tours of the constellation Sagittarius, toward the center of our Milky Way Galaxy. Dominated by the telltale red emission of ionized hydrogen atoms recombining with stripped electrons, this stunning, deep view of the Lagoon is nearly 100 light-years across. Right of center, the bright, compact, hourglass shape is gas ionized and sculpted by energetic radiation and extreme stellar winds from a massive young star. In fact, the many bright stars of open cluster NGC 6530 drift within the nebula, just formed in the Lagoon several million years ago. Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply. NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC