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.

                               2023 October 31
    [2]The center of the Wizard Nebula is shown featuring gas glowing in
   red and dust reflecting in blue. Dark dust pillars are seen throughout
    the image. Please see the explanation for more detailed information.

                       Halloween and the Wizard Nebula
                Image Credit & Copyright: [3]Richard McInnis

   Explanation: [4]Halloween's origin is ancient and astronomical. Since
   the fifth century BC, [5]Halloween has been celebrated as a
   [6]cross-quarter day, a day halfway between an [7]equinox (equal day /
   equal night) and a [8]solstice (minimum day / maximum night in the
   northern hemisphere). With a [9]modern calendar however, even though
   Halloween occurs today, the real cross-[10]quarter day will occur
   [11]next week. Another cross-quarter day is [12]Groundhog Day[13].
   Halloween's modern celebration retains [14]historic roots in
   [15]dressing to scare away the spirits of the dead. Perhaps a fitting
   tribute to this ancient holiday is [16]this closeup view of the
   [17]Wizard Nebula (NGC 7380). Visually, the interplay of stars, gas,
   and dust has created a shape that appears to some like a [18]fictional
   ancient sorcerer. Although the nebula may last only a few million
   years, some of the [19]stars being conjured from the gas by the
   [20]great gravitational powers may [21]outlive our Sun.

                        Tomorrow's picture: sun block
     __________________________________________________________________

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    Authors & editors: [33]Robert Nemiroff ([34]MTU) & [35]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([36]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Phillip Newman [37]Specific rights apply.
              [38]NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices
                A service of: [39]ASD at [40]NASA / [41]GSFC,
                         [42]NASA Science Activation
                           & [43]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2310/WizardCenter_McInnis_960.jpg
   3. https://www.astrobin.com/users/rmcinnis1/
   4. https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-halloween
   5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween
   6. https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/halloween-derived-from-ancient-celtic-cross-quarter-day/
   7. https://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/september-equinox.html
   8. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap220321.html
   9. https://webexhibits.org/calendars/year-countries.html
  10. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quarter_days
  11. https://sonrisaeast.com/quarter-sun-cross-quarter-calendar/
  12. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundhog_Day
  13. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZbtAFq7dP8
  14. https://www.neopagan.net/Halloween-Origins.html
  15. https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/halloween-cat-costumes-19-57f75fe01d15b__605.jpg
  16. https://www.astrobin.com/kt2rv5/
  17. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_7380
  18. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magician_(fantasy)#/media/File:Arthur-Pyle_The_Enchanter_Merlin.JPG
  19. https://science.nasa.gov/astrophysics/focus-areas/how-do-stars-form-and-evolve/
  20. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitational_collapse
  21. http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Astro/startime.html
  22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap231030.html
  23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  25. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  26. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  28. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  29. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  30. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  31. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=231031
  32. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap231101.html
  33. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  34. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  35. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  36. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  37. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  38. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  39. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  40. https://www.nasa.gov/
  41. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  42. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  43. http://www.mtu.edu/