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 March 16
IC 1318: The Butterfly Nebula in Gas and Dust
Image Credit & Copyright: Alan Pham
Explanation: In the constellation of the swan near the nebula of the
pelican lies the gas cloud of the butterfly next to a star known as the
hen. That star, given the proper name Sadr, is just to the right of the
featured frame, but the central Butterfly Nebula, designated IC 1318,
is shown in high resolution. The intricate patterns in the bright gas
and dark dust are caused by complex interactions between interstellar
winds, radiation pressures, magnetic fields, and gravity. The featured
telescopic view captures IC 1318's characteristic emission from ionized
sulfur, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms mapped to the red, green, and blue
hues of the popular Hubble Palette. The portion of the Butterfly Nebula
pictured spans about 100 light years and lies about 4000 light years
away.
Tomorrow's picture: aurora jupiter
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Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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