Astronomy Picture of the Day
    


NGC 281: Cluster, Clouds, and Globules
<< Yesterday 21.09.1998 Tomorrow >>
NGC 281: Cluster, Clouds, and Globules
Credit & Copyright: David Malin (AAO), IAC, RGO, Isaac Newton Telescope
Explanation: NGC 281 is a busy workshop of star formation. Prominent features include a small open cluster of stars, a diffuse red-glowing emission nebula, large lanes of obscuring gas and dust, and dense knots of dust and gas in which stars may still be forming. The open cluster of stars IC 1590 visible on the upper right has formed only in the last few million years. The brightest member of this cluster is actually a multiple-star system shining light that helps ionize the nebula's gas, causing the red glow visible throughout. The lanes of dust on the lower right might be the home of future star formation. Particularly striking in the above photograph are the dark Bok globules visible against the bright nebula. Stars are probably forming there right now. The entire NGC 281 system lies about 10 thousand light years distant.

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
 < September 1998  >
Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su

123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
282930



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: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.

Based on Astronomy Picture Of the Day

Publications with keywords: bok globule - emission nebula - open cluster
Publications with words: bok globule - emission nebula - open cluster
See also:
All publications on this topic >>