by Ann » Tue Jun 11, 2019 3:21 pm
I have never taken much of an interest in the Cave Nebula, but today's APOD is inspiring. Particularly if we compare the Spitzer infrared picture with an RGB image of this region! So, without further ado...
The Cave Nebula (left) and Cepheus B (right). Photo: I don't know. The Cave Nebula (top right) and Cepheus B (far right). Photo: spitzer.caltech.edu
If I have understood things correctly, Cepheus B is so dark that it is hardly visible in optical light at all. Well, there is a diffuse faint pink region next to the large dark nebula at right. The pink nebulosity may be Cepheus B for all I know, and the very dark shape is one of the Lynds Dark Nebulas, but I don't know which one. I would appreciate some help in identifying it!
Anyway, there is clearly star formation going on inside Cepheus B, which appears to be (mostly) even younger than the Cave Nebula. Then again, the stars of the Cave Nebula are younger than the stars "above" Cepheus B. This is an area of ongoing star formation, that much is certain!
Orin: I think that the "cave" is the roundish dark shape "below" the bright rim of the Cave Nebula.
The Cave Nebula. Photo: Mark Sibole.
Take a look at the picture at left. The red rim is very obvious. There is a large dark shape "below" that rim, and I think that the dark shape is the "cave".
Ann
I have never taken much of an interest in the Cave Nebula, but today's APOD is inspiring. Particularly if we compare the Spitzer infrared picture with an RGB image of this region! So, without further ado...
[float=left][img2]https://i.pinimg.com/originals/16/30/64/163064f5456dd602353ec4c6acda5c99.jpg[/img2][c][size=85]The Cave Nebula (left) and Cepheus B (right). Photo: I don't know. :-([/size][/c][/float] [float=right][img2]https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7tcX9fTp4uA/maxresdefault.jpg[/img2][c][size=85]The Cave Nebula (top right) and Cepheus B (far right). Photo: spitzer.caltech.edu[/size][/c][/float]
If I have understood things correctly, Cepheus B is so dark that it is hardly visible in optical light at all. Well, there is a diffuse faint pink region next to the large dark nebula at right. The pink nebulosity may be Cepheus B for all I know, and the very dark shape is one of the Lynds Dark Nebulas, but I don't know which one. I would appreciate some help in identifying it! :D
Anyway, there is clearly star formation going on inside Cepheus B, which appears to be (mostly) even younger than the Cave Nebula. Then again, the stars of the Cave Nebula are younger than the stars "above" Cepheus B. This is an area of ongoing star formation, that much is certain!
Orin: I think that the "cave" is the roundish dark shape "below" the bright rim of the Cave Nebula.
[float=left][img2]https://s22380.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/SH2-155HaLRGBsmall.jpg[/img2][c][size=85]The Cave Nebula. Photo: Mark Sibole.[/size][/c][/float]
Take a look at the picture at left. The red rim is very obvious. There is a large dark shape "below" that rim, and I think that the dark shape is the "cave".
Ann