Space Saturday XXXVI: The Rosette Nebula

The 36th edition of Space Saturday brings us the Rosette Nebula.

The Rosette Nebula

The Rosette Nebula (Click for larger version.)

This beautiful image of the Rosette Nebula comes to us from Brian Lula (source) and is found in theconstellation Monoceros. Nebula is about 5300 light years away and contains hot, young X-ray emitting stars at its center.

Inside the nebula lies an open cluster of bright young stars designated NGC 2244. These stars formed about four million years ago from the nebular material and their stellar winds are clearing a hole in the nebula’s center, insulated by a layer of dust and hot gas. Ultraviolet light from the hot cluster stars causes the surrounding nebula to glow.

For more astronomy pictures, check out my Space Saturday Archive.


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