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Credit & Copyright: Dimitris Valianos
Explanation:
The North America nebula
on the sky can do what the
North America continent
on Earth cannot -- form stars.
Specifically, in analogy to the Earth-confined continent,
the bright part that appears as the
east coast
is actually a hot bed of gas, dust, and newly formed stars known as the
Cygnus Wall.
The featured image
shows the star forming wall lit and eroded by
bright young stars and
partly
hidden by the dark
dust they have created.
The part of the North America nebula
(NGC 7000) shown spans about 50
light years
and lies about 1,500 light years away toward the
constellation
of the Swan
(Cygnus).
Jigsaw Challenge:
Astronomy Puzzle of the Day
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January February |
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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: North America Nebula
Publications with words: North America Nebula
See also: