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Credit & Copyright: Adam Block &
Tim Puckett
Explanation:
Would the
Rosette Nebula
by any other
name look as sweet?
The bland New General Catalog
designation of NGC 2237 doesn't appear to diminish the appearance of
this
flowery emission nebula,
at the top of the image, atop a
long stem of glowing hydrogen gas.
Inside the nebula lies an
open cluster
of bright young stars designated
NGC 2244.
These stars
formed about four million years ago from the nebular
material and their
stellar winds are clearing a hole in the nebula's center,
insulated by a layer of dust and hot gas.
Ultraviolet light from the
hot cluster stars causes the surrounding nebula to
glow.
The Rosette Nebula spans about 100
light-years across, lies
about 5000 light-years away,
and can be seen with a small telescope towards the constellation of
the Unicorn (Monoceros).
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& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: NGC 2237 - Rosette Nebula
Publications with words: NGC 2237 - Rosette Nebula
See also: