Astronomy Picture of the Day

The Rosette Nebula


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#98888 by @ 15.02.2007 00:00 - nach oben -
The Rosette Nebula


Explanation:
Would the
Rosette Nebula by any other
name look as
sweet?

The bland New General Catalog
designation of NGC 2237 doesn't appear to diminish the appearance of the

this flowery emission nebula.

Inside the nebula lies an
open cluster
of bright young stars designated
NGC 2244.

These stars
formed about four million years ago from the nebular
material and their

stellar winds are clearing a hole in the nebula's center,
insulated by a layer of dust and hot gas.


Ultraviolet light from the
hot cluster stars causes the surrounding nebula to glow.

The
Rosette Nebula spans about 100
light-years across, lies
about 5000 light-years away,
and can be seen with a small telescope towards the constellation of Monoceros.




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