The Eagle Nebula in Infrared
影像提供: NASA/JPL-Caltech/N. Flagey (IAS/SSC) & A. Noriega-Crespo (SSC/Caltech)
Explanation:
In visible light, the whole thing looks like an eagle. The region was captured recently in unprecedented detail in infrared light by the robotic orbiting Spitzer Space Telescope (SSC). Shown above, the infrared image allows observers to peer through normally opaque dust and so better capture the full complexity of the Eagle Nebula star forming region. In particular, the three famous pillars near the image center are seen bathed in dust likely warmed by a supernova explosion. The warm dust is digitally assigned the false color of red. Also visible, near the bottom of the image, is ten light-year long pillar sometimes dubbed the Fairy of Eagle Nebula. The greater Eagle emission nebula, tagged M16, lies about 6500 light years away, spans about 20 light-years, and is visible with binoculars toward the constellation of Serpens.
說明:
在可見光波段，這個星雲的形狀像一隻老鷹。最近，軌道上的史匹哲望遠鏡 (SSC)在紅外光波段，為這個區域拍攝了一幅空前清晰的影像，如上面影像所示。這幅紅外光影像讓天文學家可以透視通常不透光的塵埃，得以了解老鷹星雲這個恆星形成區的複雜全貌，例如：影像中央三根著名的雲氣柱，像是沐浴在被超新星爆炸所加熱的塵埃中。這些溫熱的塵埃被付予紅色的假色。此外，靠近影像底部有十根長度將近一光年的氣柱，它們有時被戲稱是老鷹星雲的仙女。老鷹星雲及其周圍的發射星雲合稱為M16，大小約為20光年，距離我們約有6500 光年遠，用雙筒望遠鏡可在北天的巨蛇座內找到它。
資料來源: Scientific American
Department of Physics, NCKU
