Starship Asterisk*

Halloween and the Wizard Nebula

Explanation: Halloween's origin is ancient and astronomical. Since the fifth century BC, Halloween has been celebrated as a cross-quarter day, a day halfway between an equinox (equal day / equal night) and a solstice (minimum day / maximum night in the northern hemisphere). With a modern calendar however, even though Halloween occurs today, the real cross-quarter day will occur next week. Another cross-quarter day is Groundhog Day. Halloween's modern celebration retains historic roots in dressing to scare away the spirits of the dead. Perhaps a fitting tribute to this ancient holiday is this closeup view of the Wizard Nebula (NGC 7380). Visually, the interplay of stars, gas, and dust has created a shape that appears to some like a fictional ancient sorcerer. Although the nebula may last only a few million years, some of the stars being conjured from the gas by the great gravitational powers may outlive our Sun.

<< Previous APOD

This Day in APOD

Next APOD >>

um, you missed the wizard part

Can someone limit the magician's silhouette?

wizard is above the APOD crop, only his hand shows
larger size
10/25/2009

whwiii wrote: ↑Tue Oct 31, 2023 3:32 pm
wizard is above the APOD crop, only his hand shows
larger size
10/25/2009

The wizard is here?

Ann

I'm almost glad this can bo set aside for another year!

Ann wrote: ↑Tue Oct 31, 2023 5:18 pm
The wizard is here?

Ann

yes

orin stepanek wrote: ↑Tue Oct 31, 2023 5:51 pm WizardCenter_McInnis_960.jpg
I'm almost glad this can bo set aside for another year!

And there's also a bat to be had:

Ann wrote: ↑Tue Oct 31, 2023 5:18 pm

whwiii wrote: ↑Tue Oct 31, 2023 3:32 pm
wizard is above the APOD crop, only his hand shows
larger size
10/25/2009

Wizard of the Wizard Nebula.png

The wizard is here?

Ann

Thanks Whwiii and Ann

I much prefer seeing "true" colour images of this nebula and also north up.