Explanation: Do you see the bat? It haunts this cosmic close-up of the eastern Veil Nebula. The Veil Nebula itself is a large supernova remnant, the expanding debris cloud from the death explosion of a massive star. While the Veil is roughly circular in shape and covers nearly 3 degrees on the sky toward the constellation of the Swan (Cygnus), NGC 6995, known informally as the Bat Nebula, spans only 1/2 degree, about the apparent size of the Moon. That translates to 12 light-years at the Veil's estimated distance, a reassuring 1,400 light-years from planet Earth. In the composite of image data recorded through narrow band filters, emission from hydrogen atoms in the remnant is shown in red with strong emission from oxygen atoms shown in hues of blue. Of course, in the western part of the Veil lies another seasonal apparition: the Witch's Broom Nebula.
Scariest nebula photo, ever!!!
Almost as scary as batcat…
Happy Halloween!
Eric
Re: APOD: NGC 6995: The Bat Nebula (2021 Oct 27)
Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2021 5:32 am
by Ann
XgeoX wrote: ↑Wed Oct 27, 2021 4:36 am
Scariest nebula photo, ever!!!
Almost as scary as batcat…
Happy Halloween!
Eric
Ha ha, Eric, that's very cute and funny!
The APOD really brings ut the bat shape of this part of the Veil Nebula. So let me show you where the Bat Nebula (and the larger Veil Nebula) is in Cygnus:
The Veil Nebula in Cygnus. The arrow points (more or less)
at the Bat Nebula in Cygnus. Photo: D. Kodama.
Of course you can see the red North America Nebula (NGC 7000) in the upper left part of this picture, can't you? And the blue-white star to the right of it is Deneb.
Oh, and... for the nerds out there. Are you wondering about the fuzzy white patch to the lower right of the Veil Nebula? Well, I was wondering too! Turns out to be a scattered but rich old open cluster that I had never heard of, NGC 6940.
Ann
Re: APOD: NGC 6995: The Bat Nebula (2021 Oct 27)
Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2021 12:38 pm
by orin stepanek
Can you imagin what we could see here if explored by
the James Webb Telescope?
Ah! We are starting to get those nice Halloween Nebula In; thanks
APOD! I love these seasonal Pictures!
I love the kitty Photos!
Re: APOD: NGC 6995: The Bat Nebula (2021 Oct 27)
Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2021 2:03 pm
by zendae1
Although the center of it looks more like a Great Horned Owl - also suitable for the occasion.
NGC 6995: The Bat Nebula
