May 22, 1996
The universe has spent billions of years making things that shine. On your birthday, we celebrate one of its quieter masterpieces.
Star Cluster in the Rosette Nebula
Birthday · May 22, 1996
A little universe, just for you
Your date.
Ready to give.
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APOD published May 22, 1996. Full image credits are on the original APOD entry below. A publication-date match, not a photo taken on your date. Independent of NASA.
mbedded in the center of the colorful and photogenic Rosette Nebula is a bright, young open cluster. The bright blue stars in this cluster, labelled NGC 2244, emit ultraviolet light that knocks electrons away from hydrogen atoms. When the electrons fall back, they emit the red light which distinctively defines the glow of all emission nebulae. The Rosette Nebula is thousands of light years distant, but light would take only about 100 years to cross it. The Rosette Nebula is not difficult to observer and, although faint, actually appears larger than the full moon.