Astronomy Picture of the Day
    


M20: The Trifid Nebula
<< Yesterday 31.03.1998 Tomorrow >>
M20: The Trifid Nebula
Credit & Copyright: Anglo-Australian Telescope Board
Explanation: Unspeakable beauty and unimaginable bedlam can be found together in the Trifid Nebula. Also known as M20, this photogenic nebula is visible with good binoculars in the constellation of Sagittarius. The energetic processes of star formation create not only the colors but the chaos. The red-glowing gas results from high-energy light striking interstellar hydrogen gas. The dark dust filaments that lace M20 were created in the atmospheres of cool giant stars and in the debris from supernovae explosions. Which bright young star lights up the blue reflection nebula is still being investigated. The light from M20 we see today left perhaps 3000 years ago. Light takes about 50 years to cross M20.

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






1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031




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: reflection nebula - emission nebula
Publications with words: reflection nebula - emission nebula
See also:
All publications on this topic >>