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> Trifid nebula (M20) in Sagittarius
Trifid nebula (M20) in Sagittarius
author: Anglo-Australian Observatory/David Malin Images/Novapix
reference: a-neb65-14003
Image Size 300 DPI: 51 * 40 cm
Trifid nebula is located in Sagittarius constellation between 5000 and 10 000 light-years away. Stars, the Sun included, were born within clouds of dusty gas such as the Trifid Nebula. Within it a number of young hot stars have already formed. The hottest cause the gas, mostly hydrogen, to emit its characteristic red light. Around the red emission nebula the gas contains many dust grains which preferentially reflect the blue component of starlight, and to the north (top) of the nebula can be seen a bright star which illuminates part of the dust to create a region of blue reflection. In some parts of the nebula there are so many dust grains that they hide the glowing gas, producing the three dark lanes which give the object its name.
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