241230 - NGC1999 "13th Pearl" nebula
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click on image to enlarge
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ASTRO:
type=emission + reflection nebulae const= Orion IMAGE: location=Emerald Bay, TX BrtlCls=4 exposure=CMOS OSC: 67x360s (6.7h), G100 EQUIPMENT: camera=ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro optics=ES102 w 1.0x flattener, FL=714 (prime), f/7.0 filter=Radian Ultra Quad NB mount=Celestron AVX guiding=Orion 60x240mm w ASI224MC SOFTWARE: acquisition=Stellarium, NINA, PHD2 processing=PixInsight (RCAstro) (Seti Astro), Photoshop (Lumenzia) (APF-R), LrC |
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With its associated open star cluster catalogued in the New General Catalogue as NGC 1999, this coagulation of glowing star clouds has most often been called by the same NGC identifier. As for a common name, there are many references in online forums, but with no clear consensus. Being in-frequently photographed, it appears those who have encountered its astonishingly beautiful emission and reflection nebulae often develop their own descriptions of its shape and/or features. Some of the names attributed to it include, the "Black Eye", "Rubber Stamp", "Cosmic Keyhole", and arguably most creative, the "13th Pearl" nebula; with the latter appearing to be derived from the Bible story of the "12 Pearly Gates to Heaven" (Revelation 21:21). The IAU does not formally recognize names of nebulae; and so, the conflagration over common names goes on...
NGC 1999 was discovered some two centuries ago by Sir William Herschel and his sister Caroline Herschel, who cataloged it in the mid 19th century. Today, it lies inside the recognized boundary of the famous constellation of Orion, the mighty hunter. It lies about 1,500 light-years from Earth, just off the 'tip of the sword', in a region of our Milky Way galaxy where new stars are actively being formed. The nebula is famous in scientific circles; because, the first Herbig-Haro object was discovered immediately adjacent to it (...lying below and slightly left of the 'Pearl'). Herbig-Haro objects are now known to be jets of highly energetic (hot and glowing) gas ejected from very young stars as they form.
When viewed closely, the "Pearl" - the tiny reflection nebula in the lower center of the image - shines like fog around a street lamp, because the light is from a bright, recently formed and embedded star that illuminates its dust. This piece of the nebula, whose reflective qualities outshine the emissions of its surrounding neighbors, does not emit any visible light of its own. The embedded star is cataloged as V380 Orionis, with its white color being due to its high surface temperature of about 10,000° C; ...nearly twice that of our own Sun. Its mass is estimated to be 3.5 times that of the Sun. The star is so young that it is still surrounded by a cloud of material left over from its formation, seen here as the NGC 1999 reflection nebula.
Upon close inspection, this image of NGC 1999 shows a tiny but remarkable jet-black cloud near the center of the reflection nebula, resembling a letter T tilted on its side, located just to the right and lower right of the bright star. When seen, one begins to understand where the descriptions, "Rubber Stamp" and "Cosmic Keyhole" come from. This dark cloud is an example of a "Bok globule", named after the late University of Arizona professor and esteemed astronomer Dr. Bartholomeus "Bart" Bok. The globule is comprised of a cold cloud of gas, mixed together with molecular matter and cosmic dust. The mixture is so dense it blocks all of the light emanating from behind it. Astronomers believe that new stars may be forming inside Bok globules. ...being formed through a process of contraction under their own gravity, of the dust and molecular gas contained within them.
Moderately faint, this object is not frequently photographed; perhaps because its nearby neighbor, "The Great Orion Nebula", gets a much higher billing. ...but, imagers who venture to capture the 'Pearl' often marvel over its beauty and complexity once encountered.
NGC 1999 was discovered some two centuries ago by Sir William Herschel and his sister Caroline Herschel, who cataloged it in the mid 19th century. Today, it lies inside the recognized boundary of the famous constellation of Orion, the mighty hunter. It lies about 1,500 light-years from Earth, just off the 'tip of the sword', in a region of our Milky Way galaxy where new stars are actively being formed. The nebula is famous in scientific circles; because, the first Herbig-Haro object was discovered immediately adjacent to it (...lying below and slightly left of the 'Pearl'). Herbig-Haro objects are now known to be jets of highly energetic (hot and glowing) gas ejected from very young stars as they form.
When viewed closely, the "Pearl" - the tiny reflection nebula in the lower center of the image - shines like fog around a street lamp, because the light is from a bright, recently formed and embedded star that illuminates its dust. This piece of the nebula, whose reflective qualities outshine the emissions of its surrounding neighbors, does not emit any visible light of its own. The embedded star is cataloged as V380 Orionis, with its white color being due to its high surface temperature of about 10,000° C; ...nearly twice that of our own Sun. Its mass is estimated to be 3.5 times that of the Sun. The star is so young that it is still surrounded by a cloud of material left over from its formation, seen here as the NGC 1999 reflection nebula.
Upon close inspection, this image of NGC 1999 shows a tiny but remarkable jet-black cloud near the center of the reflection nebula, resembling a letter T tilted on its side, located just to the right and lower right of the bright star. When seen, one begins to understand where the descriptions, "Rubber Stamp" and "Cosmic Keyhole" come from. This dark cloud is an example of a "Bok globule", named after the late University of Arizona professor and esteemed astronomer Dr. Bartholomeus "Bart" Bok. The globule is comprised of a cold cloud of gas, mixed together with molecular matter and cosmic dust. The mixture is so dense it blocks all of the light emanating from behind it. Astronomers believe that new stars may be forming inside Bok globules. ...being formed through a process of contraction under their own gravity, of the dust and molecular gas contained within them.
Moderately faint, this object is not frequently photographed; perhaps because its nearby neighbor, "The Great Orion Nebula", gets a much higher billing. ...but, imagers who venture to capture the 'Pearl' often marvel over its beauty and complexity once encountered.