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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.
The Mermaid Nebula Supernova Remnant
Explanation: New stars are born from the remnants of dead star s. The gaseous remnant of the gravitational collapse and subsequent death of a very massive star in our Milky Way created the G296.5+10.0 supernova remnant , of which the featured Mermaid Nebula is part. Also known as the Betta Fish Nebula , the Mermaid Nebula makes up part of an unusual subclass of supernova remnants that are two-sided and nearly circular. Originally discovered in X-rays , the filamentary nebula is a frequently studied source also in radio and gamma-ray light. The blue color visible here originates from doubly ionized oxygen (OIII), while the deep red is emitted by hydrogen gas . The nebula's mermaid-like shape has proven to be useful for measurements of the interstellar magnetic field .
Growing Gallery: Last night's supermoon eclipse
| Date | September 18, 2024 |
|---|---|
| Credit | Image Credit & Copyright: Neil Corke ; 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. |