Astronomy picture of the day - 2018 March 29 - NGC 2023 in the Horsehead's Shadow

NGC 2023 in the Horsehead's Shadow 
Image Credit & Copyright: Steve Mazlin, Mark Hanson, Warren Keller, Rex Parker, Tommy Tse,
and Peter Proulx (SSRO / PROMPT / CTIO)

Explanation: Carved by a bright young star in Orion's dusty molecular clouds, NGC 2023 is often overlooked in favor of the nearby dramatic silhouette of the Horsehead Nebula. In its own right it is seen as a beautiful star forming emission and reflection nebula though, a mere 1500 light-years distant. Surprisingly colorful and complex filaments are detailed in this rare NGC 2023 portrait. Scattered points of emission are also from the region's Herbig-Haro objects, associated with the energetic jets from newborn stars. The sharp telescopic view spans about 10 light-years at the estimated distance of NGC 2023. Off the right edge of the frame lies the more familiar cosmic Horsehead.

JoanMira - "Era uma vez...as flores" - Fotos

"Era uma vez...as flores"

29-03-2018

JoanMira

JoanMira - "Cor que até parece" - Fotos

"Cor que até parece" 

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"Me and you"

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"Sonho no Infinito"

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JoanMira - "Primavera privada" - Fotos

"Primavera privada"

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"Everytodas, uma cesta e um nabo"

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JoanMira - "Eram três amigas" - Fotos

"Eram três amigas"

28-03-2018

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JonMira - "Smelling" - Fotos

"Smelling"

28-03-2018

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Astronomy picture of the day - 2018 March 28 - Blue Moon Tree

Blue Moon Tree 
Image Credit & Copyright: Eric Houck Explanation: Does an alignment like this occur only once in a blue moon? No, although it was during a blue moon that this single-shot image was taken. During a full moon that happened to be the second of the month -- the situation that defines a blue moon -- the photographer created the juxtaposition in late January by quickly moving around to find just the right spot to get the background Moon superposed behind the arc of a foreground tree. Unfortunately, in this case, there seemed no other way than getting bogged down in mud and resting the camera on a barbed-wire fence. The arc in the oak tree was previously created by hungry cows in Knight's Ferry, California, USA. Quirky Moon-tree juxtapositions like this can be created during any full moon though, given enough planning and time. Another opportunity will arise this weekend, coincidently during another blue moon. Then, the second blue moon in 2018 will occur, meaning that for the second month this year, two full moons will appear during a single month (moon-th). Double blue-moon years are relatively rare, with the last occurring in 1999, and the next in 2037.