Explanation:
What creates the cosmic dust sculptures in the Rosette Nebula?
Noted for the common beauty of its
overall shape, parts of the
Rosette Nebula, also known as NGC 2244,
show beauty even when viewed up close.
Visible above are
globules of dark
dust and gas that are slowly being
eroded away by the energetic light and winds by nearby massive stars.
Left alone long enough, the
molecular-cloud globules
would likely form stars and planets.
The above image was taken in very specific colors of
Sulfur
(shaded red),
Hydrogen
(green), and
Oxygen (blue).
The Rosette Nebula spans about 50
light-years
across, lies
about 4,500 light-years away,
and can be seen with a small telescope towards the constellation of the
Unicorn (Monoceros).
