Ancient nebula that looks like a FLAMING SKULL as it moves through our galaxy
- Cosmic dust cloud looks like comic book character Johnny Blaze
- The Sh2-68 nebula is at least 45,000 years old
- Striking image captured by professor at Kitt Peak National Observatory
A cosmic burning skull blazes ominously in this image taken by a university professor.
The interstellar cloud has been dubbed the flaming skull nebula and is the glowing remains of a dying star larger than our sun.
The Sh2-68 ancient planetary nebula is estimated to be at least 45,000 years old and is currently traveling though the Milky Way.
Astronomers have been quick to point out that the nebula looks like a giant screaming head with flaming hair, streaking across the galaxy.
The Sh2-68 nebula is believed to be over 45,000 years old and is presently making its way through the Milky Way. The 'face' of the skull is composed of oxygen atoms. The image was taken on a specialist camera at Kitt Peak National Observatory
HOW IS A NEBULA FORMED?
- Planetary nebulae are formed when a star larger than our sun starts to die and gives off a solar-wind of gas
- As it grows older the wind becomes more violent and clashes with fragments of old star, forming strange shapes
- Later, the outer layers of the star are blown off and expose the star's hot core, which lights up the surrounding gas and causes the eery glow
- Only once the glowing begins is the nebula visible to earth
- Factors such as how the star spins, what angle it is viewed at and the chemical composition of the gas affect the shape of the nebula
It might also remind some comic book fans of Ghost Rider hero Johnny Blaze.
The hero's flaming skull typically grins as he fights villains on his motorcycle.
Dr Travis A Rector, an associate professor at the University of Alaska Anchorage, captured the striking image.
It was taken on a wide-field view of the Mosaic camera on the Mayall 4-meter telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory.
The star at the heart of the dust cloud is currently moving rapidly through the Milky Way where there is more gas and dust between stars than usual.
The 'flaming hair' is created by the planetary nebula's motion and the hydrogen gas blowing out of the star.
The skull's face is made up of energised oxygen atoms and the dark blue spot at the centre of the blue gas is the star.
Dr Rector has coloured the different gases produced to create the dramatic image.
神秘「燃燒的骷髏頭星雲」 《惡靈騎士》銀河版
美國一名大學助理教授近日拍攝到銀河奇景，這團星雲綽號「燃燒的骷髏頭星雲」，它看起來很像一個巨大、發出尖叫的頭部，頭髮部分正熊熊燃燒著，宛如電影《惡靈騎士》主角變身骷髏頭的模樣。
這個Sh2-68古代行星星雲大約有4.5萬年歷史，它是一顆比太陽還要大的垂死恒星的殘餘物，目前正穿越銀河系。天文學家很快就發現此一星雲，它那炙烈燃燒的「頭髮」是由氫氣組成的。
這張令人震驚的照片，是由阿拉斯加安克拉治大學助理教授瑞克特(Travis A Rector)博士、透過基特峰國立天文台梅奧爾望遠鏡(KPNO 4-meter telescope)所拍攝的。該照片可能讓人聯想到《惡靈騎士》裡的主角強尼布雷(Johnny Blaze)，他變身後頭部是一顆燃燒的骷髏頭。
該星雲「燃燒的頭髮」是由行星星雲的移動以及恒星氫氣燃燒產生的，「臉部」是由通電的氧原子組成，而藍色氣體中央暗藍色的點則是恒星。瑞克特對不同的氣體著色，從而產生這張生動的圖片。 |
發表於 2013-7-4 06:26 AM
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