Rosette Nebula
NGC 2237
Product Description
The Rosette Nebula is a large emission
nebula located 3000 light-years away. The great abundance of hydrogen gas
gives NGC 2237
its red color in most photographs.
The wind from the open cluster of stars
known as NGC 2244 has
cleared a hole in the nebula's center. The above photograph,
however, was taken in the light emitted by three elements of the gas ionized by
the energetic central stars. Here green light originating from oxygen and blue
light originating from sulfur supplements
the red from hydrogen. Filaments of dark dust
lace run through the nebula's gases. The origin of recently observed fast-moving
molecular knots in the Rosette Nebula remains under investigation.
Credit: T. A. Rector, B. Wolpa, M. Hanna (AURA/NOAO/NSF)
