APOD: Comet, Clusters and Nebulae (2018 Sep 13)

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APOD: Comet, Clusters and Nebulae (2018 Sep 13)

Post by APOD Robot » Thu Sep 13, 2018 4:06 am

Image Comet, Clusters and Nebulae

Explanation: Bright enough for binocular viewing Comet 21P / Giacobini-Zinner stands out, even in this deep telephoto mosaic of the star cluster and nebula rich constellation Auriga the Charioteer. On the night of September 9 its greenish coma and diffuse tail contrast with the colorful stars and reddish emission nebulae in the almost 10 degree field of view along the Milky Way. The comet was near its perihelion and closest approach to Earth, about 200 light-seconds away. Riding across the distant background just above the comet's tail are well-known Auriga star clusters M38 (left of center) and M36 (toward the right) about 4,000 light-years away. At the top left, emission region IC 405 is only 1,500 light-years distant, more dramatically known as the Flaming Star Nebula. To its right lies IC 410, 12,000 light-years away and famous for its star-forming cosmic tadpoles. A child of our Solar System Giacobini-Zinner is a periodic comet orbiting the Sun once every 6.5 years, and the parent body of October's Draconids meteor shower.

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Boomer12k
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Re: APOD: Comet, Clusters and Nebulae (2018 Sep 13)

Post by Boomer12k » Thu Sep 13, 2018 4:37 am

WOW....How many astronomical objects can you put in one picture????

PLENTY!!!!

Great image.

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Re: APOD: Comet, Clusters and Nebulae (2018 Sep 13)

Post by Ann » Thu Sep 13, 2018 4:41 am

I'm glad to see this APOD. Many people have taken pictures of Comet 21P / Giacobini-Zinner visiting the rich fields of clusters and nebulas in Auriga, and Mohammad Nouroozi is one of them. Mohammad Nouroozi's picture is beautiful, but do take a look at some others, too, that have been posted in the Recent Submissions forum here at Starship Asterisk*! :D

Ann
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Re: APOD: Comet, Clusters and Nebulae (2018 Sep 13)

Post by Boomer12k » Thu Sep 13, 2018 10:12 am

Almost looks like a fireworks display...

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Re: APOD: Comet, Clusters and Nebulae (2018 Sep 13)

Post by ta152h0 » Thu Sep 13, 2018 3:57 pm

From looking at this in its entirety, I just blew a few dioVery big Universe !des in my head.
Wolf Kotenberg

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