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A new infrared image reveals tendrils of glowing gas and sparkling stars in a star-forming region that's obscured by dust when seen in visible light. It's the kind of before-and-after image that makes even astronomers gasp in awe.
"When I first saw this image. I just said, 'Wow!'" Jim Emerson. an astronomer at Queen Mary, University of London, said in an image advisory released today. "I was amazed to see all the dust streamers so clearly around the Monoceros R2 cluster, as well as the jets from highly embedded young stellar objects."
Emerson heads the consortium in charge of the VISTA survey telescope, operated by the European Southern Observatory at its facility in Chile. The telescope's 4.1-meter-wide (13.5-foot-wide) mirror is well-suited for capturing high-resolution images of large areas of the sky. The ESO says it's the world's largest telescope dedicated to surveys. (VISTA stands for Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy.)
Infrared-sensitive telescopes are able to cut through layers of dust to see the details within. And there are a lot of details in the Monoceros R2 star-forming region, which is 2,700 light-years away in the southern constellation Monoceros (the Unicorn). The region's hot young stars and outflows of gas stand out much more clearly in the VISTA picture than they do in visible-light imagery. To see the difference, click on this video clip from the ESO:
The ESO says observations in infrared wavelengths will be key to understanding phases of stellar evolution that are hidden from visible-light telescopes. In the months and years ahead, VISTA will map the entire southern sky systematically, gathering about 300 gigabytes of data per night. Within a decade or so, the ESO will put an even bigger telescope on the case: the European Extremely Large Telescope, which will boast a mirror more than 10 times as wide as VISTA's.
More about big telescopes:
- Coolest next-generation telescopes
- Nobel physicist focuses on Hubble's heir
- $1.6 billion telescope would seek alien planets
- Canary Island telescope is the largest ... for now
Visit the brand-spanking-new Cosmic Log page on Facebook and hit the "Like" button. You can also follow @boyle on Twitter. And if you really want to be friendly, ask me about "The Case for Pluto."
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absolutely spectacular! The views these telescopes bring us never cease to give me pause. I am in the boat as the scientist who was quoted in the story, just WOW!
I was trying to find a suitable high quality photo of this for the desktop background of my PC (and haven't found it yet, but I will find it) and I stumbled on a page some of you star-gazers may enjoy... http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
Hiya Mob!
Did you see this version of R2?
http://www.eso.org/public/archives/images/screen/eso1039a.jpg
And more resolution choices here:
http://www.eso.org/public/images/eso1039a/
~Michael
Perfection! Thank you Michael!! for some reason I was having trouble getting to the ESO site yesterday (10/6/10). That sure is a beautiful picture!!!!
This is the awsome pictures to see the forming stars and the dust and the awsome changing colors in the midst of all "stars", planets.
I am glad it does not happen in the midst of earth.
Each time when I read those pictures, I am in awe that if we don't have a God to hold on our earth; if it just depends on the Darwin whatever theory, our earth is possibly become a patch of colorful dust in the midst of forming another "star or star system".
Thank God. He does exist.
Billie, what are you talking about when you refer to "the Darwin whatever theory"? Darwin was a naturalist, not an astronomer! His theories regarding natural selection of species here on Earth had absolutely nothing to do with astrophysics or outer space! What are you talking about?
You do realize, don't you, that all the changing colors are fake. This picture has been touched up by NASA.
Byron, I doubt the images are substantially altered... what you are seeing are basically before and after pictures which show the differences between two types of imaging, infrared vs. visible light.
When NASA "touches up" a photo it's not like they are adding color for the sake of adding color. They add a specific color to specific characteristic. It makes a lot of sense when you see all the images that make up one of these photos separated. For a lot of pictures the color code goes as follows: X-Ray (blue); Radio [MOST] (red); Radio [ATCA]& Optical (yellow); Infrared (red or RGB).
Bryan sez:
"You do realize, don't you, that all the changing colors are fake. This picture has been touched up by NASA."
In addition to what Mob sez (spot on), I find it humorous that you say that the picture has been altered by NASA. Did you actually, you know, READ the article? The images are by the European Southern Observatory, in Chile. Nothing to do with NASA.So why, Bryan, do you so enjoy blaming NASA?
The image is taken in infrared. Unless you are a snake or a superhero, your eyes do not see in the infrared. The colors are adjusted so you can actually see something. Without the color adjustment the picture would be literally black in the visible spectrum.
~Michael (AFM*Radio / Astronomy.FM)
when time will be to talk about planet x Alan B.
there is a lot more math than just fluid dynamics going on there man!!...are there other images of this area besides visible and infrared?...this is so cool that eventually chile may be the one hosting the coolest and biggest star parties on the planet.
it would be VERY interesting to see visible light, infrared, UV, and x ray images all side by side (seperated and combined) on this one!
wow
The greatest show!
I would just like to note how impressed I am with the grammar and logic in these comments so far. Billie, myrtha and Ricky, you are true American heroes.
"Billie, myrtha and Ricky, you are true American heroes."
No, breakingglass, they are not! Let me tell you what they are: All three of these posters are a perfect example of a growing movement of contempt in this country for anything that smacks of science, and if it doesn't stop, this nation is going to be in serious trouble. Oh, yes, we love it when Apple or Microsoft invents a new toy, but that's not what I'm talking about. Over the last 30 years, there has been a wave of anti-intellectual sentiment in this country that has coincided with the rise of fundamentalist Christianity, which, if left unchecked, will result in this country becoming the North American version of Iran, where a religious class decides what "science" is.
And please be a little more moderate in your use of the word "hero." There are genuine heroes out there, but these three aren't one of them!
Ookay, breakingglass, now I think I get it. You were being sarcastic, right? If so, please excuse my rant.
I was being extremely, extremely sarcastic.
I got the sarcasm, but I think memery's rant makes VERY good points.
I think we can all agree that there is a trend in America to reward certain dumb behavior. A quick look at American Television and I would hope you'll want to throw up. American Idol, Jersey Shore, Survivor, and a whole host of other shows encourage behavior that To Me is very undesirable in what I think society should be. In fact TV itself is a bad behavior. And for that same reason the internet can lead to bad behavior. All these things CAN be used to enhance life and further communication and learning. But the trend is not moving toward a better life with more intelligent enlightened communication. (and I hope folks out there realize I'm not picking on the internet, I'm pointing out lousy uses of the internet- like people spending all the time facebooking the days away - and I am not any better... Here I am spending quite a bit of time reading scientific articles and commenting on them, hoping to learn something).
I guess people could argue I'm wasting my time. To each their own I guess. I just wish more folks enjoyed science and math and history and space and all that other stuff that I geek out on.
so, there's my rant. hope you enjoyed it. ;-P
I doubt even the Jersey Shore cast would say that Facebooking is more valuable than educating yourself.
Really? I suppose I've made my judgment of them based on too little information, but I can't stand that show for even a moment so I will just stop mentioning them altogether. In any event I hope you are right about that breakingglass.
Well, I think I might have just had a rare moment of optimism for the human race. It's passed now, I'm pretty sure abs and tanning outweigh just about everything for them. I curse them.
I hope with all my being that the human race is not represented by that show. I join you in cursing them.
Hi! RickyBobby....
You're right...I think when scientists/astro-physicists/astronomers talk about the Big Bang and the beginning/start of the Universe, a better word might be "born". The Universe is a constantly changing/evolving/re-forming. (We aren't "formed" as adults when we are birthed...we grow into adults).
Good grammatical catch...and, I do get your point about disproving the Big Bang Theory...there are some interesting theories out there about alternate universes or other planes of existence playing a role in the beginning/formation of our universe. Of course, you can't discount God. I think 1.) we may never really know, 2.) the concept/idea/details are far out of our reach of understanding. 3.) I'd like to think that we could have a little beautiful mystery in our lives without trying to dissect it (ha! ha!)
You'all have a great day...
Isis RickyB's comment was made without any knowledge on the subject, the creation of stars and new galaxies does not disprove the Big Bang theory. But the big bang theory could be wrong but at mankinds current understanding and knowledge it is the best theory that fits all the available observations.
The good thing about theories is that they can be changed, modified, or completely thrown out as new theories are discovered to take their place.
Religion is another matter it doesnt change and it doesnt encourage followers to question, if you question then you are unfaithful or blasphemous.
The one true thing is our Universe is an amazing place and we will always be in awe and students as we progress thru time and gain knowledge. Hopefully us humans can get over ourselves and our pety fight for money, power and to prove who's religion is the true religion. Till that happens we are going to be stuck on this rock and we will be unable to go out to explore the new frontier.
Great comments, I don't think religion and science are mutually exclusive. It's just the people that mess it up and give both sides a bad name to the other side. It's all perspective. It's all relative. Broad generalization are rarely a good thing (except this one - LOL).
Did you all know that the Apollo 8 astronauts took turns reading from the book of Genesis while broadcasting video back to Earth?
When you see stark beauty like this it really makes you appreciate the mystery of existence and that we are a part of it.
Too True!! Well said Conrad!
They look very nice... a lot more surprises around them :D I hope they have more on their website
Mob_Barley, I recently bought the Meade LXD75 Schmidt Cassigrane 8” Telescope with German Equatorial mount. I am still getting to know the ins and outs of this telescope. Once I do I will be dabbling into some beginning Astral photography once I can get the rest of the gear I need for it.
I will never take pictures like this but I can take some awesome pics with my scope to “wet” my feet so I will know if I want to invest more money into it.
I am cursed right now with cloudy rain skies so my sky adventure is temporarily on hold.
Mob I will pop you a PM with links to the photos when I post them. It will probably be 6 months or so but I can take photos of planets and the moon with my sony cybershot.
Pirate, You lucky sun of a gun, I would give my right arm for a telescope that nice. lol I have a hand-me-down 4" telescope that is pretty good for looking at the moon but that's about it. I have been looking into getting a really nice telescope with motor mount and digital camera. I really want one that I can hook up to my TV so I can set the telescope on the porch and show family and friends all the cool stuff that's up there. But at this point I'm getting married in a few months and my better half won't allow the use of money towards "fun stuff". LOL
One day perhaps..
But I would definitely be interested in your shots! Too bad you have cloudy skies. I hope it clears up in time for you to see the close approach of Hartley 2. Anyhow, I would love to see any photos you take. Thanks!