三叶星云M20

马达

2009 July 7
The Trifid Nebula in Stars and Dust

Credit  Copyright: Adam Block, Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter, U. Arizona
Explanation:
Unspeakable beauty and unimaginable bedlam can be found together in theTrifid Nebula. Also known as M20, this photogenic nebula is visiblewith good binoculars towards the constellation of Sagittarius. Theenergetic processes of star formation create not only the colors butthe chaos. The red-glowing gas results from high-energy starlightstriking interstellar hydrogen gas. The dark dust filaments that laceM20 were created in the atmospheres of cool giant stars and in thedebris from supernovae explosions. Which bright young stars light upthe blue reflection nebula is still being investigated. The light fromM20 we see today left perhaps 3,000 years ago, although the exactdistance remains unknown. Light takes about 50 years to cross M20.