The Sombrero Galaxy in Virgo (NGC 4594) is a spiral galaxy characterized by a dark band of dust through it's center which obscures the central bulge or core. This galaxy is tilted from one line of sight. Its central core is quite prominent. It's 42,380,000 light years away from Earth, one of the farthest...
The Trifid Nebula in Sagittarius (NGC 6514) is a cloud of interstellar gas illuminated by a relatively new star (7 million years old) Three dark radial dust lanes divide the cloud, hence its name. It's 3,200 light years away from Earth, and the distance across the nebula is 12 light year.
The Eagle Nebula in Serpent (NGC 6611) is a cloud on interstellar gas excited by several bright, hot O and B type stars. The small, dark regions may be protostarts - globules of cold stella gas that may condense to become new stars. It's 6,000 light years away from Earth, and the distance across is 20 light years.
The Laggon Nebula in Sagittarius (NGC 6523) is mainly hydrogen gas left over from the star formation of NGC 6530, a star cluster near the middle of the Lagoon. The expanding gas collides with dark matter nearby, making bright rims of gas surrounded by dark clouds. The nebula is approximately 2 million years old, which is considered young on a cosmic scale. Distance from Earth is 4,000 light years, and it's 30 light years across.
The Horsehead Nebula in Orion (NGC2024) is a dark dust cloud which lies in front of the emission nebula IC434. The dust cloud is colliding with the emission nebula. Some astronomers theorize that this may be the first stage in the formation of stars. The Horsehead was used by American astronomers in 1918 as the first proof that dark nebulae are not simply devoid of stars. Distance from Earth is 1100 light years.
The Cone Nebula in Monoceros (NGC2264) Similar to the Horsehead (NGC 2024), The Cone nebula is another example of a dark dust cloud silhouetted on an emission nebula. The presence of hot young stars indicates that the emission nebula is a birthplace of stars and further supports the theory that collisions of gas and dust clouds result in stellar formation. Distance from Earth is 4,500 light years.
A Spiral Galaxy in Centaurus (NGC4603) This computer enhanced image of NGC 4603 is a classic view of an Sc type galaxy. These galaxies have tiny central bulges with loosely wound spirals. The distance from the galaxy to Earth is 29 million light years.
Centaurus A in Centaurus (NGC5128) is a peculiar and energetic galaxy. This galaxy is one of the strongest emitters of radio waves in the sky and was one of first radio sources discovered when radiotelescopes were built in Australia. Radio astronomers have since learned that Centaurus A is a double double radio source. It appears that the visible galaxy in the center is ejecting vast amounts of material in opposite directions at near the speed of light. This material, when slowed down by collision with intersteller dust and gas then emits radio waves through interaction with galactic magnetic fields. fields. Distance from Earth is 14 million light years.
The Crab Nebula in Taurus (NGC 1952) is the remnants of a supernova that exploded in July 1054. The supernova was visible for several weeks in broad daylight. The star that remains is the first pulsar discovered. Now known to be a neutron star, it rotates on its axis once every 33 milliseconds. The nebula shines brighter than 75,000 Suns. Distance from Earth: 6500 light years. Distance across Nebula: 7 light years.
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