Starship Asterisk*

NGC 6995: The Bat Nebula

Explanation: Can you see the bat? It haunts this cosmic close-up of the eastern Veil Nebula. The Veil Nebula itself is a large supernova remnant, the expanding debris cloud from the death explosion of a massive star. While the Veil is roughly circular in shape and covers nearly 3 degrees on the sky toward the constellation of the Swan (Cygnus), NGC 6995, known informally as the Bat Nebula, spans only 1/2 degree, about the apparent size of the Moon. That translates to 12 light-years at the Veil's estimated distance, a reassuring 1,400 light-years from planet Earth. In the composite of image data recorded through narrow band filters, emission from hydrogen atoms in the remnant is shown in red with strong emission from oxygen atoms shown in hues of blue. Of course, in the western part of the Veil lies another seasonal apparition: the Witch's Broom Nebula.

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APOD Robot wrote: ↑Wed Sep 04, 2024 4:05 am NGC 6995: The Bat Nebula

Explanation: Can you see the bat? It haunts of the eastern Veil Nebula. [...]

bigggger: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/539 ... 2a7a_o.jpg artistic composit jac berne (flickr)


But I also like baby bats - like in the Eastern Veil Nebula...
Original data: NASA/ESA & more

Original data: NASA/ESA Jeff Hester (Arizona State University)

Can't see a bat in the Veil Nebula, but I know one thing - there is an evil grinning Joker there.

Joker profile. Credit: Gossamer1970.
Ann

P.S. I got a sneak peek of tomorrow's APOD before it disappeared again as soon as it had flickered onto the stage, almost like a virtual particle. Hey, APOD editors, I hope you give it back to us tomorrow.

Ann wrote: ↑Wed Sep 04, 2024 5:02 am Can't see a bat in the Veil Nebula, but I know one thing - there is an evil grinning Joker there.
[...] Ann

Maybe this nebula should be better called Batman Nebula .

...but I like cosmic bats too...
LDN 43: The Cosmic Bat Nebula (Orin post APOD 2022 Oct 31)

...also in infrared... LDN 43 jac berne (flickr)

AVAO wrote: ↑Wed Sep 04, 2024 4:52 pm

Ann wrote: ↑Wed Sep 04, 2024 5:02 am Can't see a bat in the Veil Nebula, but I know one thing - there is an evil grinning Joker there.
[...] Ann

Maybe this nebula should be better called Batman Nebula .

Click to view full size image

...but I like cosmic bats too...

Click to view full size image

LDN 43: The Cosmic Bat Nebula (Orin post APOD 2022 Oct 31)

...also in infrared...

Click to view full size image

LDN 43 jac berne (flickr)

Fantastic, Jac! Yes indeed, there is a bat in LDN 43!

Ann