July 29, 2015
The atoms in your body have known many forms: star core, drifting dust, ocean mineral, living cell.
The Deep Lagoon
Birthday · July 29, 2015
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APOD published July 29, 2015. Credit: Adam Block. A publication-date match, not a photo taken on your date. Independent of NASA.
Ridges of glowing interstellar gas and dark dust clouds inhabit the turbulent, cosmic depths of the Lagoon Nebula. Also known as M8, The bright star forming region is about 5,000 light-years distant. But it still makes for a popular stop on telescopic tours of the constellation Sagittarius, toward the center of our Milky Way Galaxy. Dominated by the telltale red emission of ionized hydrogen atoms recombining with stripped electrons, this stunning, deep view of the Lagoon's central reaches is about 40 light-years across. Near the center of the frame, the bright hourglass shape is gas ionized and sculpted by energetic radiation and extreme stellar winds from a massive young star.
Image credit: Adam Block