The Creature from the Red Lagoon
What creature lurks near the red Lagoon nebula? Mars.
This gorgeous color deep-sky photograph has captured the red planet passing below two notable nebulae -- cataloged by the 18th century cosmic registrar Charles Messier as M8 and M20. M20 (upper right of center), the Trifid Nebula, presents a striking contrast in red/blue colors and dark dust lanes.
Just below and to the left is the expansive, alluring red glow of M8, the Lagoon Nebula. Both nebulae are a few thousand light-years distant. By comparison, temporarily situated below them both, is the dominant "local" celestial beacon Mars.
Photo & info via APOD
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap141125.html
Image Credit & Copyright: Derek Demeter (Emil Buehler Planetarium)
#space #nebula #mars #nasa
I did not realize there is a Trifid nebula. Aside from being misspelled for the sci-fi reference, it delights me nonetheless!
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