What do a cone, fox fur, and a Christmas tree have in common? The answer is that they can all be found in the constellation Unicorn (Monoceros). This area, where cosmic gas and dust are intricately mixed, is located about 2,700 light-years (1 light-year is the distance light travels in one year, approximately 9.46 trillion kilometers) away and is a blend of nebulae emitting red light from stars and dark interstellar dust clouds. Various cosmic characters can be seen, including the fox fur nebula on the left side of the photo, the bright star S Mon to the right of the fox fur, and the cone nebula located at the top. The shape of the light in this region, with the cone nebula at the apex, makes the stars appear like a Christmas tree, earning this cluster the nickname "Christmas tree."
입력 2024.12.24. 16:02
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