Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                2021 March 18
    [2]See Explanation. Clicking on the picture will download the highest
                        resolution version available.

                   Stardust in the Perseus Molecular Cloud
     Image Credit & [3]Copyright: [4]Kerry-Ann Lecky Hepburn, [5]Stuart
                                   Heggie

   Explanation: Clouds of stardust drift through this deep skyscape,
   across the [6]Perseus molecular cloud some 850 light-years away. Dusty
   nebulae reflecting light from embedded young stars stand out in the
   nearly 2 degree wide telescopic field of view. With a characteristic
   bluish color [7]reflection nebula NGC 1333 is at center, [8]vdB 13 at
   top right, with rare yellowish reflection nebula [9]vdB 12 near the top
   of the frame. [10]Stars are forming in the molecular cloud, though most
   are obscured at visible wavelengths by the pervasive dust. Still, hints
   of contrasting red emission from Herbig-Haro objects, the jets and
   shocked glowing gas emanating from recently formed stars, are evident
   [11]in NGC 1333. The chaotic environment may be similar to one in which
   our own Sun formed over 4.5 billion years ago. At the estimated
   distance of the Perseus molecular cloud, this cosmic scene would span
   about 40 light-years.

                     Tomorrow's picture: pixels in space
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    Authors & editors: [23]Robert Nemiroff ([24]MTU) & [25]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([26]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Phillip Newman [27]Specific rights apply.
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                A service of: [29]ASD at [30]NASA / [31]GSFC
                           & [32]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2103/KerryLeckyHepburn_NGC1333_LRGB_SH_KLH.jpg
   3. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
   4. http://www.weatherandsky.com/
   5. http://www.stuartheggie.com/
   6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perseus_molecular_cloud#/media/File:PerseusCloudMap.png
   7. http://astronomy.swin.edu.au/cms/astro/cosmos/R/Reflection+Nebula
   8. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap121026.html
   9. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap121026.html
  10. https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0602089
  11. http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/images/1523-ssc2005-24a1-NGC-1333-in-the-Infrared
  12. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap210317.html
  13. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  14. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  15. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  16. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  17. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  18. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod.rss
  19. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  21. http://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=210318
  22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap210319.html
  23. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  24. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  25. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  26. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  28. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  29. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  30. https://www.nasa.gov/
  31. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  32. http://www.mtu.edu/