                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                2023 July 21

                      Galactic Cirrus: Mandel Wilson 9
             Image Credit & Copyright: Gabriel Rodrigues Santos

   Explanation: The combined light of stars along the Milky Way are
   reflected by these cosmic dust clouds that soar 300 light-years or so
   above the plane of our galaxy. Known to some as integrated flux nebulae
   and commonly found at high galactic latitudes, the dusty galactic
   cirrus clouds are faint. But they can be traced over large regions of
   the sky toward the North and South Galactic poles. Along with the
   reflection of starlight, studies indicate the dust clouds produce a
   faint reddish luminescence as interstellar dust grains convert
   invisible ultraviolet radiation to visible red light. Also capturing
   nearby Milky Way stars and distant background galaxies, this remarkably
   deep, wide-field image explores a complex of faint galactic cirrus
   known as Mandel Wilson 9. It spans over three degrees across planet
   Earth's skies toward the far southern constellation Apus.

                      Tomorrow's picture: light-weekend
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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