Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]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.

                               2025 January 25
    [2]See Explanation. Clicking on the picture will download the highest
                        resolution version available.

                   Stardust in the Perseus Molecular Cloud
               Image Credit & [3]Copyright: [4]Jeff Schilling

   Explanation: Clouds of stardust drift through [5]this deep skyscape,
   across the [6]Perseus molecular cloud some 850 light-years away. Dusty
   nebulae reflecting light from embedded young stars stand out in the
   nearly 4 degree wide field of view. With a characteristic bluish color
   [7]reflection nebula NGC 1333 is prominent near center. Hints of
   contrasting red emission from Herbig-Haro objects, the jets and shocked
   glowing gas emanating from recently formed stars, are scattered across
   [8]the dusty expanse. While many [9]stars are forming in the molecular
   cloud, most are obscured at visible wavelengths by the pervasive dust.
   The chaotic environment surrounding [10]NGC 1333 may be similar to one
   in which our own Sun formed over 4.5 billion years ago. At the
   estimated distance of the Perseus molecular cloud, this cosmic scene
   would span about 80 light-years.

                    Growing Gallery: [11]Comet ATLAS (G3)
                       Tomorrow's picture: comet tails
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    Authors & editors: [23]Robert Nemiroff ([24]MTU) & [25]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([26]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [27]Specific rights apply.
              [28]NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices
                A service of: [29]ASD at [30]NASA / [31]GSFC,
                         [32]NASA Science Activation
                           & [33]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2501/ngc1333_jeff_version_4_2048.jpg
   3. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
   4. https://www.astrobin.com/users/Space_Man_Spiff/collections/
   5. https://www.astrobin.com/3vfeut/?nc=collection&nce=37170
   6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perseus_molecular_cloud#/media/File:PerseusCloudMap.png
   7. http://astronomy.swin.edu.au/cms/astro/cosmos/R/Reflection+Nebula
   8. http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/images/1523-ssc2005-24a1-NGC-1333-in-the-Infrared
   9. https://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/0602089
  10. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240912.html
  11. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.600449002683681&type=3
  12. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250124.html
  13. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  14. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  15. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  16. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  17. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  18. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod.rss
  19. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  21. http://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=250125
  22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250126.html
  23. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  24. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  25. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  26. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  28. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  29. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  30. https://www.nasa.gov/
  31. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  32. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  33. http://www.mtu.edu/