The Ice Fountains Of Enceladus, Taken By Cassini

NGC6302 Butterfly Nebula

Within Carina

M42, Heart of Orion 

Sh2-224 // Alfred Leitgeb

Milky Way Galaxy Mt. Fuji over Lake Kawaguchiko at sunrise in Fujikawaguchiko, Japan

by ณัฐวุฒิ อุตมหาราช

jake moore photography surf sunset

Rippling dust and gas lanes are what give the Flaming Star Nebula its name. The orange and purple colors of the nebula are present in different regions and are created by different processes. The bright star AE Aurigae, visible toward the middle of the image to the left, is so hot it is blue, emitting light so energetic it knocks electrons away from surrounding gas. When a proton recaptures an electron, red light is frequently emitted (depicted here in orange). The purple region's color is a mix of this red light and blue light emitted by AE Aurigae but reflected to us by surrounding dust. The two regions are referred to as emission nebula (the orange portion) and reflection nebula (the purple portion).

Pictured here in the Hubble color palette, the Flaming Star Nebula, officially known as IC 405, lies about 1500 light years distant, spans about 5 light years, and is visible with a small telescope toward the constellation of the Charioteer (Auriga).



Image Credit & Copyright: Eric Coles and Mel Helm

Moon minerals

Orion rising over Death Valley // Brett Nickeson

A few easily-spotted nebulae include Barnard's Loop and the Orion Nebula

Mars reptilian whale or complex sand dunes [557 x 1443]