Astronomy Picture of the Day [1]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. 2021 March 18 [2]See Explanation. Clicking on the picture will download the highest resolution version available. Stardust in the Perseus Molecular Cloud Image Credit & [3]Copyright: [4]Kerry-Ann Lecky Hepburn, [5]Stuart Heggie Explanation: Clouds of stardust drift through this deep skyscape, across the [6]Perseus molecular cloud some 850 light-years away. Dusty nebulae reflecting light from embedded young stars stand out in the nearly 2 degree wide telescopic field of view. With a characteristic bluish color [7]reflection nebula NGC 1333 is at center, [8]vdB 13 at top right, with rare yellowish reflection nebula [9]vdB 12 near the top of the frame. [10]Stars are forming in the molecular cloud, though most are obscured at visible wavelengths by the pervasive dust. Still, hints of contrasting red emission from Herbig-Haro objects, the jets and shocked glowing gas emanating from recently formed stars, are evident [11]in NGC 1333. The chaotic environment may be similar to one in which our own Sun formed over 4.5 billion years ago. At the estimated distance of the Perseus molecular cloud, this cosmic scene would span about 40 light-years. Tomorrow's picture: pixels in space __________________________________________________________________ [12]< | [13]Archive | [14]Submissions | [15]Index | [16]Search | [17]Calendar | [18]RSS | [19]Education | [20]About APOD | [21]Discuss | [22]> __________________________________________________________________ Authors & editors: [23]Robert Nemiroff ([24]MTU) & [25]Jerry Bonnell ([26]UMCP) NASA Official: Phillip Newman [27]Specific rights apply. [28]NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices A service of: [29]ASD at [30]NASA / [31]GSFC & [32]Michigan Tech. U. References 1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html 2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2103/KerryLeckyHepburn_NGC1333_LRGB_SH_KLH.jpg 3. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply 4. http://www.weatherandsky.com/ 5. http://www.stuartheggie.com/ 6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perseus_molecular_cloud#/media/File:PerseusCloudMap.png 7. http://astronomy.swin.edu.au/cms/astro/cosmos/R/Reflection+Nebula 8. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap121026.html 9. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap121026.html 10. https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0602089 11. http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/images/1523-ssc2005-24a1-NGC-1333-in-the-Infrared 12. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap210317.html 13. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html 14. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html 15. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html 16. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search 17. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html 18. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod.rss 19. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html 20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html 21. http://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=210318 22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap210319.html 23. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html 24. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/ 25. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html 26. http://www.astro.umd.edu/ 27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply 28. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html 29. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/ 30. https://www.nasa.gov/ 31. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/ 32. http://www.mtu.edu/