APOD: The Iris Nebula in a Field of Dust (2019 Sep 12)

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APOD: The Iris Nebula in a Field of Dust (2019 Sep 12)

Post by APOD Robot » Thu Sep 12, 2019 4:07 am

Image The Iris Nebula in a Field of Dust

Explanation: These cosmic dust clouds drift some 1,300 light-years away along the fertile starfields of the constellation Cepheus. The beautiful Iris Nebula, also known as NGC 7023, blossoms at the upper left. Not the only nebula in the sky to evoke the imagery of flowers, its pretty, symmetric form spans about 6 light-years. This nebula's dominant blue color is characteristic of the pervasive dust grains reflecting light from a nearby hot, bluish star. But darker, obscuring dust clouds cover most of the nearly 4 degree wide field of view. At the right is the LDN 1147/1158 complex of Lynds Dark Nebulae. Stars are forming there, still hidden within the dark cloud cores. A search through the sharp image can identify Herbig-Haro objects though, jets of shocked glowing gas emanating from recently formed stars.

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heehaw

Re: APOD: The Iris Nebula in a Field of Dust (2019 Sep 12)

Post by heehaw » Thu Sep 12, 2019 8:09 am

Interstellar filth, including gold from merging neutron stars ... like the gold in my wedding ring!

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Re: APOD: The Iris Nebula in a Field of Dust (2019 Sep 12)

Post by orin stepanek » Thu Sep 12, 2019 11:44 am

Like a lonely little petunia; er Iris; in a dusty patch! :mrgreen:
Orin

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Re: APOD: The Iris Nebula in a Field of Dust (2019 Sep 12)

Post by Ann » Thu Sep 12, 2019 12:30 pm

heehaw wrote: Thu Sep 12, 2019 8:09 am Interstellar filth, including gold from merging neutron stars ... like the gold in my wedding ring!
And the Iris Nebula itself is the sparkling sapphire in your ring (or in your wife's ring)!

But sapphires, unlike gold, aren't made in space, I think. Then again, the Earth is certainly a part of the Universe, so...

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Re: APOD: The Iris Nebula in a Field of Dust (2019 Sep 12)

Post by TheZuke! » Thu Sep 12, 2019 1:21 pm

Well,
when I saw the word "Iris", I was thinking of part of an eye.

[heehaw], as was sung in the musical "Paint your Wagon",
"The best things in life are dirty!"

[Orin],
I haven't heard that song in a looooonnnnnnggg time!
(It was sung occasionally on "Captain Kangaroo")

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Re: APOD: The Iris Nebula in a Field of Dust (2019 Sep 12)

Post by neufer » Thu Sep 12, 2019 3:31 pm

Ann wrote: Thu Sep 12, 2019 12:30 pm
heehaw wrote: Thu Sep 12, 2019 8:09 am
Interstellar filth, including gold from merging neutron stars
... like the gold in my wedding ring!
And the Iris Nebula itself is the sparkling sapphire in your ring (or in your wife's ring)!

But sapphires, unlike gold, aren't made in space, I think.
Han Solo: 3PO, you tell that slimy piece of worm-ridden filth,
  • he'll get no such pleasure from us...right :?:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2coQp_6TCTI
Art Neuendorffer

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Re: APOD: The Iris Nebula in a Field of Dust (2019 Sep 12)

Post by MarkBour » Thu Sep 12, 2019 4:05 pm

Nice comparison! The iris nebula does have a pretty fair resemblance to a nicely-illuminated star sapphire.
Mark Goldfain

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Re: APOD: The Iris Nebula in a Field of Dust (2019 Sep 12)

Post by orin stepanek » Thu Sep 12, 2019 5:02 pm

IRISNebulaSurroundingsNGC7023_1100.jpg
1280px-Iris_latifolia-Lac_Aule-Laruns-2522~2013_07_29.JPG
This is what I see in the Iris Nebula! 8-)Flower picture from Wiki!
Orin

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Re: APOD: The Iris Nebula in a Field of Dust (2019 Sep 12)

Post by Ann » Thu Sep 12, 2019 5:12 pm

neufer wrote: Thu Sep 12, 2019 3:31 pm
Ann wrote: Thu Sep 12, 2019 12:30 pm
heehaw wrote: Thu Sep 12, 2019 8:09 am
Interstellar filth, including gold from merging neutron stars
... like the gold in my wedding ring!
And the Iris Nebula itself is the sparkling sapphire in your ring (or in your wife's ring)!

But sapphires, unlike gold, aren't made in space, I think.
Han Solo: 3PO, you tell that slimy piece of worm-ridden filth,
  • he'll get no such pleasure from us...right :?:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2coQp_6TCTI
Wow. You blew me away with the star sapphire, Art.

Ann
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neufer
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Re: APOD: The Iris Nebula in a Field of Dust (2019 Sep 12)

Post by neufer » Thu Sep 12, 2019 6:54 pm

Ann wrote: Thu Sep 12, 2019 5:12 pm
Wow. You blew me away with the star sapphire, Art.

Art Neuendorffer

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Re: APOD: The Iris Nebula in a Field of Dust (2019 Sep 12)

Post by Boomer12k » Fri Sep 13, 2019 3:05 am

Floating ghost clouds playing "Starball"....

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Re: APOD: The Iris Nebula in a Field of Dust (2019 Sep 12)

Post by MarkBour » Sat Sep 14, 2019 10:05 pm

orin stepanek wrote: Thu Sep 12, 2019 5:02 pm IRISNebulaSurroundingsNGC7023_1100.jpg1280px-Iris_latifolia-Lac_Aule-Laruns-2522~2013_07_29.JPGThis is what I see in the Iris Nebula! 8-)Flower picture from Wiki!
Also a persuasive comparison!
Mark Goldfain

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