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APOD
Astronomy Picture of the Day
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.
Sh2-132: The Lion Nebula
Explanation: Is the Lion Nebula the real ruler of the constellation Cepheus ? This powerful feline appearing nebula is powered by two massive stars , each with a mass over 20 times greater than our Sun . Formed from shells of ionized gas that have expanded, the nebula's energetic matter not only glows , but is dense enough to contract gravitationally and form stars . The angular size of the Lion Nebula, officially named Sh 2-132, is slightly greater than that of the full moon . The gaseous iconic region resides about 10,000 light year s away in a constellation named after the King of Aethopia in Greek mythology .
Your Sky Surprise: What picture did APOD feature on your birthday? (post 1995)
| Date | June 10, 2024 |
|---|---|
| Credit | Image Credit & Copyright: Imran Badr ; Text: Natalia Lewandowska ( SUNY Oswego ) |
| Authors & editors: | Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) |
| A service of: |
ASD at NASA / GSFC, NASA Science Activation & Michigan Tech. U. |