2025年3月5日
Seven Sisters versus California
Image Credit & Copyright: Todd Anderson
Explanation: On the right, dressed in blue, is the Pleiades. Also known as the Seven Sisters and M45, the Pleiades is one of the brightest and most easily visible open clusters on the sky. The Pleiades contains over 3,000 stars, is about 400 light years away, and only 13 light years across. Surrounding the stars is a spectacular blue reflection nebula made of fine dust. A common legend is that one of the brighter stars faded since the cluster was named. On the left, shining in red, is the California Nebula. Named for its shape, the California Nebula is much dimmer and hence harder to see than the Pleiades. Also known as NGC 1499, this mass of red glowing hydrogen gas is about 1,500 light years away. Although about 25 full moons could fit between them, the featured wide angle, deep field image composite has captured them both. A careful inspection of the deep image will also reveal the star forming region IC 348 and the molecular cloud LBN 777 (the Baby Eagle Nebula).
Jump Around the Universe: Random APOD Generator
Tomorrow’s picture: open space
七姊妹与加州
影像提供与版权: Todd Anderson
说明: 影像右侧裹着蓝色晖光的天体，是亦名为七姊妹和M45的昴宿星团，它也是地球夜空中最明亮最容易辨识的疏散星团之一。距离地球约400光年远的昴宿星团，其3,000多颗成员星分布在仅有13光年宽的范围之内。昴宿星团成员恒星周围的壮丽泛蓝反射星云，其成分为细小的尘埃。一则古老传说宣称，这个星团当初定名之后，有一颗较亮的恒星后来变暗。在影像左侧的红色天体，为形似美国加州因而得名的加州星云。加州星云远比明亮的昴宿星团昏暗，故肉眼难以直接观看。编录号为NGC 1499、离地球约1,500光年远的加州星云，其本质则为会发出泛红辉光的氢气云。这二个天体之间的角距大约为25个满月，然而这幅广角深空组合影像，还是能同时拍到它们。仔细检视这张深雪影像，还可找到恒星形成区IC 348及分子云 LBN 777（幼鹰星云）。
宇宙跳跃: 随机APOD生成器
明日的图片: open space
