                        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.

                                2024 March 5
   A complex jumble of colorful gas and dark dust dominate a bright field
     of stars. Please see the explanation for more detailed information.

                     NGC 2170: Angel Nebula Abstract Art
                   Image Credit & Copyright: David Moulton

   Explanation: Is this a painting or a photograph? In this celestial
   abstract art composed with a cosmic brush, dusty nebula NGC 2170, also
   known as the Angel Nebula, shines just above the image center.
   Reflecting the light of nearby hot stars, NGC 2170 is joined by other
   bluish reflection nebulae, a red emission region, many dark absorption
   nebulae, and a backdrop of colorful stars. Like the common household
   items that abstract painters often choose for their subjects, the
   clouds of gas, dust, and hot stars featured here are also commonly
   found in a setting like this one -- a massive, star-forming molecular
   cloud in the constellation of the Unicorn (Monoceros). The giant
   molecular cloud, Mon R2, is impressively close, estimated to be only
   2,400 light-years or so away. At that distance, this canvas would be
   over 60 light-years across.

                       Tomorrow's picture: star plane
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Amber Straughn; Specific rights apply.
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