Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
A new image released to celebrate the 23rd anniversary of Hubble has captured a stunning
infrared view of the Horsehead Nebula, one of the most distinctive objects in our skies.
These infrared observations pierce through parts of the thick, obscuring dust, revealing
the delicate wisps of gas that make up the HorseheadÕs famous and familiar shape.
Some of us have followed Hubble from its conception and birth, through its childhood and teenage
years, to see it emerge as a fully-fledged adult. Now, at the age of 23, Hubble is aging
Ñ but more capable than ever. And every year of observing continues to bring us cutting-edge
science, and stunning astronomical images.
Some of the most striking and beautiful subjects of these images have been nebulae. These come
in all shapes and sizes, and often seem to take on familiar or recognizable forms.
Nebulae are vast interstellar clouds of gas and dust. There are several different types
of nebulae, and they can take on a wide range of shapes and appearances.
For example, the Eagle Nebula was formed by a collapsing interstellar cloud, and it glows
due to the hot new stars forming within and around it. Some nebulae form in much more
dramatic ways Ñ like the Helix Nebula, for example. It is the result of a once Sun-like
star blowing off its outer layers. Or the Crab Nebula, which is what remains of a massive
star that exploded as a supernova back in 1054.
One of the most striking and distinctive nebulae in our skies is the Horsehead Nebula, due
to its clear and curiously familiar shape. Hubble imaged this nebula back in 2001 to
celebrate its 11th year of observing Ñ and now, over a decade later, it is again involved
in the telescopeÕs birthday celebrations.
Rising from a sea of gas and dust like a giant sea horse, this dusty region is a great example
of a dark nebula Ñ a cold, dark, cloud silhouetted against a background of glowing gas. But despite
this nebulaÕs fame and popularity, this new image from Hubble now shows it in a whole
new light Ñ quite literally!
This image was taken in the infrared. In infrared light, we can pierce right through some of
the bulky plumes of dusty material which usually mask and obscure the inner regions of the
Horsehead.
The result is this rather fragile-looking structure, made of delicate, wispy folds of
gas Ñ very different to the nebulaÕs appearance in the visible.
Infrared light has longer wavelengths than visible light. We cannot see this radiation
with our eyes alone, and so have capable infrared telescopes or instruments Ñ for example,
HubbleÕs Wide Field Camera 3. Seemingly normal-looking areas of sky can suddenly appear to be dramatically
different in this part of the spectrum.
This striking new view of the Horsehead Nebula is a fitting celebration of an incredible
23 years of the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. This is Dr J, signing off for the Hubblecast.
Once again, nature has surprised us beyond our wildest imagination.