Solved: What is it? Space mystery object

[rstevenson]

Yes, as observed earlier today, makc got it. Carry On Regardless.

Rob

[makc]

ha ha, no takers? and I thought, everyone would recognize this wonderful couple come on, people, you've got to know it!

[makc]

more hints? more hints.

this crop is actually quite large portion of particular apod image, but not so large portion of its original. although it appears as merely small pale dot in that bigger picture, it's not that far from us as you might expect.

[Wayne]

I've seen enough smudgy blobs with faint companions to know that one looks much like the other.

Judging from the ratio of brightnesses and limiting my search to within the solar system, that's either Pluto and Charon (Unlikely, Charon would be brighter) or Earth and Luna.

[bystander]

PIA08323: Pale Blue Orb

[makc]

seems like both of you are on the right track, with bystander even more so now all you have to do is to find matching apod.

[Wayne]

Here you go.

[makc]

Ta daa, we have a winnor! Now you get to post next one.

[Wayne]

If I saw something like this through my telescope, I'd be wondering what's in the local water.

[Amir]

isn't it showing a supernova?

[Wayne]

Not even close, I'm afraid.

[wonderboy]

Is your post a clue (apart from the picture) i.e. id be wondering whats in the local water?

[Wayne]

No, it's not a clue. But this is: It's at the opposite end to Amir's guess.

[Amir]

what? you mean a star forming region? (i'm probably wrong again! ;D)

[rstevenson]

No, it's not a clue. But this is: It's at the opposite end to Amir's guess.

A black hole?

Rob

[Wayne]

what? you mean a star forming region? (i'm probably wrong again! ;D)

You are very close, Amir.

[newbyx]

Is it a snowflake on the lens???

[Amir]

it has a very symmetrical shape, considering that, it looks like a Planetary Nebula.

[Wayne]

Go back to your previous guess, Amir.

You don't really need to know what it is (though knowing what it is will help you search APOD's archives), to win all you have to do is link to the right APOD.

[Boingy]

Hello all,
This is my first post
Could it be a galaxy with an active nucleus, or a galaxy who's nucleus is coincident with a foreground star?
I'm curious to know if the two globule-like things at the bottom are anything to do with picture.
Cheers,
Boingy

[owlice]

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap010502.html

[Boingy]

goes to show just how difficult it is to interpret pictures

[Chris Peterson]

Correct APOD

Good catch. Kind of annoying... I was almost certain what this was (and was right), and tried a variety of keywords, and found nothing. Now going back, most of my searches ("star dust planet") did in fact show the APOD. I just missed it while running down the thumbnails.

[Wayne]

A winner is owlice!

Your turn to post the next one.

[owlice]

Thank you, Wayne!

Chris, I'm embarrassed to say that I found it by color. I am happy to cede my turn for a new one to you!