VdB 152 Reflection Nebula (2009 Oct. 31)

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orin stepanek
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VdB 152 Reflection Nebula (2009 Oct. 31)

Post by orin stepanek » Sat Oct 31, 2009 2:21 pm

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap091031.html
VdB 152: Reflection Nebula in Cepheus
Credit & Copyright: Stephen Leshin
Explanation: Described as a "dusty curtain" or "ghostly apparition", mysterious reflection nebula VdB 152 really is very faint. Far from your neighborhood on this Halloween Night, the cosmic phantom is nearly 1,400 light-years away. Also
It may look ghostly; but to me it looks more like a bird waiting for mama to bring a nice juicy worm. It even has a twinkle in it's eye. :lol:

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Ghostly apparition VdB 152 - 20091031

Post by emc » Sat Oct 31, 2009 2:29 pm

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Re: VdB 152 Reflection Nebula (2009 Oct. 31)

Post by djak. » Sat Oct 31, 2009 2:44 pm

orin stepanek wrote:It may look ghostly; but to me it looks more like a bird waiting for mama to bring a nice juicy worm. It even has a twinkle in it's eye. :lol:

Orin
Looks like a dress to me, a brown version of http://www.detroitfashionpages.com/user ... 0dress.JPG

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Re: VdB 152 Reflection Nebula (2009 Oct. 31)

Post by steermanc » Sat Oct 31, 2009 3:40 pm

Just curious - I assume the faint reddish linear diagonal features in the upper right are artifacts. If not, what?

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Ghost image and the hand

Post by drhr » Sat Oct 31, 2009 4:16 pm

I thought the image today looks a lot like a hand... see pic. :D
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Re: VdB 152 Reflection Nebula (2009 Oct. 31)

Post by Chris Peterson » Sat Oct 31, 2009 4:17 pm

steermanc wrote:Just curious - I assume the faint reddish linear diagonal features in the upper right are artifacts. If not, what?
It looks like stimulated hydrogen emission (which the caption does say is present). Linear structures are common in nebulas because the output of active stars tends to create shock fronts in the surrounding gas.
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Re: VdB 152 Reflection Nebula (2009 Oct. 31)

Post by neufer » Sat Oct 31, 2009 7:13 pm

orin stepanek wrote:http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap091031.html

It may look ghostly; but to me it looks more like a bird waiting for mama to bring a nice juicy worm. It even has a twinkle in it's eye. :lol:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platypus wrote:
<<The Platypus is a carnivore: it feeds on annelid worms and insect larvae, freshwater shrimps, and yabbies (freshwater crayfish) that it digs out of the riverbed with its snout or catches while swimming. It utilises cheek-pouches to carry prey to the surface where they are eaten. The common name, Platypus, is Latin derived from the Greek words πλατύς ("platys", flat, broad) and πους ("pous", foot), meaning "flat foot." There is no universally agreed upon plural of "platypus" in the English language. Scientists generally use "platypuses" or simply "platypus". Colloquially, "platypi" is also used for the plural, although this is technically incorrect; the Greek plural would be "platypodes".>>
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Re: VdB 152 Reflection Nebula (2009 Oct. 31)

Post by jerbil » Sat Oct 31, 2009 7:42 pm

Henceforth I shall definitely utilize the word "platypodes." Incidentally I learnt some time ago that they literally have a sting in their tail. Dangerous, though inoffensive, animals (and the only egg-laying mammal.) :D

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Re: VdB 152 Reflection Nebula (2009 Oct. 31)

Post by bystander » Sat Oct 31, 2009 8:41 pm

jerbil wrote:Henceforth I shall definitely utilize the word "platypodes." Incidentally I learnt some time ago that they literally have a sting in their tail. Dangerous, though inoffensive, animals (and the only egg-laying mammal.) :D
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platypus wrote:It is one of the few venomous mammals; the male Platypus has a spur on the hind foot that delivers a venom capable of causing severe pain to humans.

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Re: VdB 152 Reflection Nebula (2009 Oct. 31)

Post by The Code » Sat Oct 31, 2009 11:21 pm

I thought the picture looked like a sack of potatoes, which i purchased down the road today at the local supermarket.

I had trouble parking though, because the world is full of cars. This story could go on and on but I really would not want to put you through the really rubbish day I had.

What was that pm you sent me Bystander?
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Re: VdB 152 Reflection Nebula (2009 Oct. 31)

Post by The Code » Sun Nov 01, 2009 12:21 am

Always trying to find the answers

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Re: VdB 152 Reflection Nebula (2009 Oct. 31)

Post by orin stepanek » Sun Nov 01, 2009 2:24 am

We went from dusty curtain to ghostly apparition; to birds; to extraterrestrial emanations; dresses; hands; platypodes; and a sack of spuds. What an imaginative group we are. 8) :lol: Happy Halloween! :roll:

Orin
PS spell check wanted platypuses :?
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