Astronomy Photo of the Day: 11/29/13 - Pismis 24

This is Pismis 24-1 (HDE 319718), a region with spectacular diversity, beginning with its open cluster of neighboring stars, called Pismis 24. Together, they are centrally located within the diffuse "War & Peace" nebula (more formally known as NGC 6334), which is located approximately 8,150 light-years from Earth in the constellation of Scorpius.



Interestingly, Pismis 24-1 is one of the top candidates for the coveted title of being the "Milky Way Stellar Heavyweight Champion" because, when it was initially discovered several years ago, astronomers thought the area was powered by a single star that was about 300 times more massive than the sun. This conclusion was based on standard stellar models, in addition to its brightness and distance, but now there is a general consensus among the astronomical community that there are three stars embedded in the nebula. Each of the stars about 100 solar masses, putting them at the more massive end of the solar spectrum.



The interesting contrast of colors in this nebula is largely due to ionization taking place between the hydrogen in the nebula and a massive blue star that"s spitting out ultraviolet radiation, which creates the bubble seen here. As lovely as it may be to observe, the presence of the gas makes it all the more difficult to get a closer peek at the activity going on with the stars embedded inside the nebula.

Sources & Further Reading: http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/astronomy-photo-of-the-day-112913-pismis-24/

Image Credit: NASA, ESA and J. M. Apellániz (IAA, Spain)

Astronomy Picture of the Day: 11/25/13 - Infrared Look at the Rosette Nebula

This is the Rosette Nebula as you"ve never seen it before. The region, which can be found about 5,200 light-years from Earth in the constellation Monoceros (the Unicorn), is named as such due to its flowery appearance. Only, this cosmic flower is rather large - measuring in at about 130 light-years in diameter (with an estimated 10,000 solar masses of material) - and very unflower-like, as its filled with the light of thousands of energetic baby stars. (Many of said stars are still encased in their stellar cocoons, not yet fully awakened from their eternal slumber.)

Regardless of this, the hot UV radiation has had a substantial impact on the overall shape of this region. For that matter, if you look closely, you"ll note a rather large hole. This "hole," in all actuality, is a cavity carved into the surrounding material thanks to the close proximity from the stellar nursery. (It can be seen in much more clarity in other images) The stars - in all their fury - eject large quantities of ultraviolet radiation into the superheated materials through stellar winds, which is, in turn, responsible for the erosion.

Apart from my being favorite look at the Rosette nebula, this particular image was taken at infrared wavelengths. The little bubbles reveal the locations of very hot O-type stars. Stars of this stellar classification have temperatures that can reach about 25,000 kelvins.

Sources & Additional Reading: http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/astronomy-picture-of-the-day-112513-infrared-look-at-the-rosette-nebula/

Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona