Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                              2021 February 21

               NGC 2244: A Star Cluster in the Rosette Nebula
                    Image Credit & Copyright: Don Goldman

   Explanation: In the heart of the Rosette Nebula lies a bright open
   cluster of stars that lights up the nebula. The stars of NGC 2244
   formed from the surrounding gas only a few million years ago. The
   featured image taken in January using multiple exposures and very
   specific colors of Sulfur (shaded red), Hydrogen (green), and Oxygen
   (blue), captures the central region in tremendous detail. A hot wind of
   particles streams away from the cluster stars and contributes to an
   already complex menagerie of gas and dust filaments while slowly
   evacuating the cluster center. The Rosette Nebula's center measures
   about 50 light-years across, lies about 5,200 light-years away, and is
   visible with binoculars towards the constellation of the Unicorn
   (Monoceros).

                    Tomorrow's picture: report from mars
     __________________________________________________________________

       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.
--- SBBSecho 3.13-Linux