Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Orion's Horsehead Nebula Credit & Copyight: Loke Kun Tan (StarryScapes) The Horsehead Nebula is one of the most famous nebulae on the sky. It is visible as the dark indentation to the red emission nebula seen above and to the right of center in the above photograph. The bright star on the left is located in the belt of the familiar constellation of Orion. The horse-head feature is dark because it is really an opaque dust cloud which lies in front of the bright red emission nebula. Like clouds in Earth's atmosphere, this cosmic cloud has assumed a recognizable shape by chance. After many thousands of years, the internal motions of the cloud will alter its appearance. The emission nebula's red color is caused by electrons recombining with protons to form hydrogen atoms. Also visible in the picture are blue reflection nebulae, which preferentially reflect the blue light from nearby stars.
I have seen one of the more popular photos where the nebula is in the bottom-right part of the screen and with a light green hue. The image is spectacular and almost looks hand drawn. These kinds of images make me think of how insignificant we really are, in universal terms of course.
Stunning isn't it? I assume that the colours are false - but I'm not complaining. Cheers, Ron. http://www.mech.gla.ac.uk/~rthomson
Actually, I think those are the true colors. Not visible to the eye of course, but I'm pretty sure that is a true color photo. Anyone know for sure?
Yeah, they're pretty damn close to true colors. This must've been a very high-quality instrument too -- just look at those beautiful diffraction spikes! - Warren
Just of interest to any one building a scope... The diffraction spikes are of course made by the two-cross secondary mirror mount... If you used a three mounted variety then you would get SIX diffraction spikes! I usually prefer the single or zero (glass mounted) armed variety; the fainter stars are not lost due to the defraction... But i suppose the cross-shaped stars do LOOK like a typical astro-photo to the layman...hehe.
Just thought I would post the link to other NASA Picture of the Days here: http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap030129.html. Some of the images on there are simply amazing.
