APOD: The Creature from the Red Lagoon (2014 Nov 25)

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APOD: The Creature from the Red Lagoon (2014 Nov 25)

Post by APOD Robot » Tue Nov 25, 2014 5:08 am

Image The Creature from the Red Lagoon

Explanation: What creature lurks near the red Lagoon nebula? Mars. This gorgeous color deep-sky photograph has captured the red planet passing below two notable nebulae -- cataloged by the 18th century cosmic registrar Charles Messier as M8 and M20. M20 (upper right of center), the Trifid Nebula, presents a striking contrast in red/blue colors and dark dust lanes. Just below and to the left is the expansive, alluring red glow of M8, the Lagoon Nebula. Both nebulae are a few thousand light-years distant. By comparison, temporarily situated below them both, is the dominant "local" celestial beacon Mars. Taken late last month posing near its southernmost point in Earth's sky, the red planet was 14 light-minutes away.

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Re: APOD: The Creature from the Red Lagoon (2014 Nov 25)

Post by Nitpicker » Tue Nov 25, 2014 5:36 am

Nice image, but Mars was not near its closest approach to Earth last month. Mars was near its closest approach to the Sun last month (and is slightly closer now, leading up to its perihelion in early December.)

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Re: APOD: The Creature from the Red Lagoon (2014 Nov 25)

Post by Ann » Tue Nov 25, 2014 6:52 am

Nitpicker wrote:Nice image, but Mars was not near its closest approach to Earth last month. Mars was near its closest approach to the Sun last month (and is slightly closer now, leading up to its perihelion in early December.)
Yes, but Mars looks so very photogenic in the company of the Red Lagoon and the Blue and Pink Trifid! :D

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Re: APOD: The Creature from the Red Lagoon (2014 Nov 25)

Post by Boomer12k » Tue Nov 25, 2014 3:07 pm

What a great image. The Wall of Stars, with the dust and nebulae, punctuated with Mars...there is also just a hint of a loop of pink in the upper center, and M21 just off the upper right corner, I think.
There is also a "connection" of Emission, (I don't know what else to call it), between The L. N. and the T. N......

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Re: APOD: The Creature from the Red Lagoon (2014 Nov 25)

Post by Ron-Astro Pharmacist » Tue Nov 25, 2014 9:08 pm

Lagoon.jpg
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Re: APOD: The Creature from the Red Lagoon (2014 Nov 25)

Post by Cousin Ricky » Wed Nov 26, 2014 1:32 pm

Nitpicker wrote:Nice image, but Mars was not near its closest approach to Earth last month.
This error stuck out like a sore thumb when I read the description. Is it going to be corrected?

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Re: APOD: The Creature from the Red Lagoon (2014 Nov 25)

Post by starsurfer » Wed Nov 26, 2014 6:00 pm

Boomer12k wrote: There is also a "connection" of Emission, (I don't know what else to call it), between The L. N. and the T. N......
Part of this is the faint supernova remnant W28.

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Re: APOD: The Creature from the Red Lagoon (2014 Nov 25)

Post by geckzilla » Wed Nov 26, 2014 9:08 pm

Cousin Ricky wrote:
Nitpicker wrote:Nice image, but Mars was not near its closest approach to Earth last month.
This error stuck out like a sore thumb when I read the description. Is it going to be corrected?
The editors don't read the forum but they read their emails.
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Re: APOD: The Creature from the Red Lagoon (2014 Nov 25)

Post by Nitpicker » Wed Nov 26, 2014 11:32 pm

Maybe there were just some words missing:

"Taken late last month while near its closest approach to the Comet Siding Spring, named after an observatory on Earth, the red planet was only a few light-minutes away."

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Re: APOD: The Creature from the Red Lagoon (2014 Nov 25)

Post by Nitpicker » Thu Nov 27, 2014 1:24 am

APOD Robot wrote:Taken late last month while near its closest approach to the Earth, the red planet was only a few light-minutes away.
Hang about ... maybe the camera was near its closest approach to the Earth, after being stored up high in an attic for months. :wink:

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Re: APOD: The Creature from the Red Lagoon (2014 Nov 25)

Post by Nitpicker » Fri Nov 28, 2014 5:31 am

APOD wrote:Taken late last month posing near its southernmost point in Earth's sky, the red planet was 14 light-minutes away.
Nicely corrected on the APOD page.