                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    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.

                              2024 September 4
   The featured image shows a starfield with a two- colored nebula in the
      center. The nebula is colored mostly red and blue. Please see the
                 explanation for more detailed information.

                          NGC 6995: The Bat Nebula
                  Image Credit & Copyright: Mike Taivalmaa

   Explanation: Can you see the bat? It haunts this cosmic close-up of the
   eastern Veil Nebula. The Veil Nebula itself is a large supernova
   remnant, the expanding debris cloud from the death explosion of a
   massive star. While the Veil is roughly circular in shape and covers
   nearly 3 degrees on the sky toward the constellation of the Swan
   (Cygnus), NGC 6995, known informally as the Bat Nebula, spans only 1/2
   degree, about the apparent size of the Moon. That translates to 12
   light-years at the Veil's estimated distance, a reassuring 1,400
   light-years from planet Earth. In the composite of image data recorded
   through narrow band filters, emission from hydrogen atoms in the
   remnant is shown in red with strong emission from oxygen atoms shown in
   hues of blue. Of course, in the western part of the Veil lies another
   seasonal apparition: the Witch's Broom Nebula.

         Teachers & Students: Ideas for using APOD in the classroom
                     Tomorrow's picture: friendly spiral
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.
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