NASA Unveils Images of Christmas Tree Cluster of Stars
Thousands of light-years from Earth, a cluster of stars in the NGC 2264 cluster is embracing the festive season, as depicted in recent NASA images. The stars, adorned in vibrant green, blue, and white lights, create a celestial spectacle in the Milky Way skies.
Known as the “Christmas Tree Cluster,” this arrangement features a subtle triangular base with extending branches on either side, mirroring the structure of the well-known Norway spruce, a holiday favorite and tradition.
Unveiling the ‘Christmas Tree’ Cluster
Additionally, NASA researchers have created visuals by combining data from two telescopes, including the Chandra X-Ray Observatory and the Wisconsin-Indiana-Yale-NOAO (WIYN) Observatory. Using the Two Micron All Sky Survey’s infrared data, they animated the stars in the cluster with sparkling blue and white dots. Following a 160-degree rotation from its original northern orientation, the image now enhances its Christmas tree resemblance.
Furthermore, NASA’s research indicates that the nebula, a space cloud of dust and gas, is approximately 2,500 light-years distant in the Monoceros constellation—a subtle celestial grouping along the equator. Within the NGC 2264 structure, numerous stars vary in size compared to the sun, ranging from smaller to larger, with some being less than a tenth of the sun’s mass.
Cosmic Marvels
Moreover, German-British astronomer William Herschel identified the formation in the 1780s, spanning approximately seven light-years. The nearby area is a prolific source of newly formed stars that, over millions of years, have gradually worn away the nebula, according to NASA.
Numerous nebulas resemble earthly objects or animals, like jellyfish, owls, and even an elephant trunk. The NGC 6302 in Scorpius is known as the Butterfly Nebula due to its gas clouds that mimic fluttering wings.
Additionally, researchers frequently examine nebulas and their magnetic fields, which may originate from particles within a star’s interior. This analysis helps understand the behaviors of nebulas, particularly the processes occurring when stars conclude their life cycles and transform into cosmic formations.
Furthermore, NASA’s Chandra X-ray telescopes have contributed to creating comparable image representations through the magnetic fields they generate. As stated in a NASA news release, researchers captured a spooky purple and white hand formation from the nebula of a supergiant star that collapsed into a neutron star 16,000 light-years away from Earth.
Read the original article on: The Washington Post
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