Two extremely bright stars illuminate a greenish mist in this image from the Spitzer Space Telescope's "GLIMPSE360" survey. This mist is comprised of hydrogen and carbon compounds called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which also are found here on Earth in sooty vehicle exhaust and on charred grills. In space, PAHs form in the dark clouds that give rise to stars. These molecules provide astronomers a way to visualize the peripheries of gas clouds and study their structures in great detail. They are not actually green; but are color coded in these images to allow scientists see their glow in infrared.
This image is a combination of data from Spitzer and the Two-Micron All-Sky Survey (2MASS). The Spitzer data was taken after Spitzer's liquid coolant ran dry in May 2009, marking the beginning of its "warm" mission.
For More information visit http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_1736.html
0 comments to "Bright Lights"
Popular Posts
-
NASA is providing up to $20 million over the next five years to support a national program to inspire student interest in science, technolo...
-
Even though there are many advancement in technology, keeping foods fresher in space for a long period has been impossible. Research has b...
-
Though the sun's brightness was once thought to be constant, NASA has launched a series of satellite instruments that have helpe...
-
NASA technologists will get a opportunity next summer time to experience the good old days when Organization technical engineers would conn...
-
X-24B Precision Landings Proved That Shuttle Could Land Unpowered NASA research pilot John Manke worked through his prelaunch checklist wh...
-
The mars rock touches the NASA curiosity this time it touches the more different from before Tasks. The mars rock is looks like some odd...
-
Leaner, greener flying machines for the year 2025 are on the drawing boards of three industry teams under contract to the NASA Aeronautics ...
-
Images from NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) reveal an old star in the throes of a fiery outburst, spraying the cosm...
-
The argument that the moon is a dry, desolate place no longer holds water. Secrets the moon has been holding, for perhaps billions of years,...