Posted on Sep 3, 2021
APOD: 2021 September 3 - NGC 7023: The Iris Nebula
1.36K
99
10
21
21
0
Good Red Friday morning, Rallypoint. Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) is titled "NGC 7023: The Iris Nebula." There are some red filaments about the central star in this reflection nebula, but not much. The Iris Nebula lies 1,300 light years away in the constellation Cepheus.
The trailing comment in today's write up deserves some further explanation. The discovery of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in The Iris Nebula has raised more than one eyebrow. On Earth, PAHs are everywhere: coming out of your car’s exhaust, stuck to the top of your grill, coating the inside of your fireplace. How did they get into the Iris Nebula? One possible explanation is that they formed between smaller unsaturated hydrocarbon molecules and radicals in the remnants of carbon rich stars. But it is only unconfirmed theory at this point. What is known is that a PAH is extremely stable and extremely efficient at rapidly re-emitting the absorbed energy at infra-red wavelengths. That is the data coming back from NGC 7023.
In addition to PAHs, other candidates for generating some of the emissions being detected from The Iris Nebula include fullerenes (aka 'buckyballs') and diamonds. I can see why many consider astrochemistry fun...flowers and diamonds from space.
The trailing comment in today's write up deserves some further explanation. The discovery of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in The Iris Nebula has raised more than one eyebrow. On Earth, PAHs are everywhere: coming out of your car’s exhaust, stuck to the top of your grill, coating the inside of your fireplace. How did they get into the Iris Nebula? One possible explanation is that they formed between smaller unsaturated hydrocarbon molecules and radicals in the remnants of carbon rich stars. But it is only unconfirmed theory at this point. What is known is that a PAH is extremely stable and extremely efficient at rapidly re-emitting the absorbed energy at infra-red wavelengths. That is the data coming back from NGC 7023.
In addition to PAHs, other candidates for generating some of the emissions being detected from The Iris Nebula include fullerenes (aka 'buckyballs') and diamonds. I can see why many consider astrochemistry fun...flowers and diamonds from space.
APOD: 2021 September 3 - NGC 7023: The Iris Nebula
Posted from apod.nasa.gov
NASA
Space
Science
Photography
Astronomy
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 8
14
14
0
Crosby, Stills & Nash (Live) - Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
This is the Live at Woodstock Version from movie "Long Time Com'in" DVD.
Thank you my space-exploration and NASA advocate friend Maj William W. 'Bill' Price for posting the NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) for Friday, September 3, 2021 entitled ""NGC 7023: The Iris Nebula."
It seems the The Iris Nebula has blue eyes :-)
Image: NGC 7023 - The Iris Nebula - Image Credit & Copyright - Satwant Kumar
APOD Background
"Explanation: These cosmic clouds have blossomed 1,300 light-years away, in the fertile starfields of the constellation Cepheus. Called the Iris Nebula, NGC 7023 is not the only nebula to evoke the imagery of flowers. Still, this deep telescopic image shows off the Iris Nebula's range of colors and symmetries, embedded in surrounding fields of interstellar dust. Within the Iris itself, dusty nebular material surrounds a hot, young star. The dominant color of the brighter reflection nebula is blue, characteristic of dust grains reflecting starlight. Central filaments of the reflection nebula glow with a faint reddish photoluminesence as some dust grains effectively convert the star's invisible ultraviolet radiation to visible red light. Infrared observations indicate that this nebula contains complex carbon molecules known as PAHs. The dusty blue petals of the Iris Nebula span about six light-years."
Crosby, Stills & Nash (Live) - Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-azgwfnZu7c
FYI COL Mikel J. BurroughsSMSgt Lawrence McCarterLTC (Join to see)MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D.Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D.PO1 William "Chip" NagelSPC Michael TerrellCPL Douglas ChryslerLt Col John (Jack) ChristensenGySgt Jack WallaceMSgt James Clark-RosaSGT (Join to see)SMSgt Mark VenzeioCpl Vic BurkSFC Ralph E KelleySGT Randell Rose CPT (Join to see) SGT (Join to see) SGT Scott Adie
It seems the The Iris Nebula has blue eyes :-)
Image: NGC 7023 - The Iris Nebula - Image Credit & Copyright - Satwant Kumar
APOD Background
"Explanation: These cosmic clouds have blossomed 1,300 light-years away, in the fertile starfields of the constellation Cepheus. Called the Iris Nebula, NGC 7023 is not the only nebula to evoke the imagery of flowers. Still, this deep telescopic image shows off the Iris Nebula's range of colors and symmetries, embedded in surrounding fields of interstellar dust. Within the Iris itself, dusty nebular material surrounds a hot, young star. The dominant color of the brighter reflection nebula is blue, characteristic of dust grains reflecting starlight. Central filaments of the reflection nebula glow with a faint reddish photoluminesence as some dust grains effectively convert the star's invisible ultraviolet radiation to visible red light. Infrared observations indicate that this nebula contains complex carbon molecules known as PAHs. The dusty blue petals of the Iris Nebula span about six light-years."
Crosby, Stills & Nash (Live) - Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-azgwfnZu7c
FYI COL Mikel J. BurroughsSMSgt Lawrence McCarterLTC (Join to see)MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D.Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D.PO1 William "Chip" NagelSPC Michael TerrellCPL Douglas ChryslerLt Col John (Jack) ChristensenGySgt Jack WallaceMSgt James Clark-RosaSGT (Join to see)SMSgt Mark VenzeioCpl Vic BurkSFC Ralph E KelleySGT Randell Rose CPT (Join to see) SGT (Join to see) SGT Scott Adie
(14)
(0)
LTC Stephen F.
The Velvet Underground - Pale Blue Eyes (Redux Live MCMXCIII)
The Velvet Underground performing "Pale Blue Eyes" during their 1993 reunion tour.R.I.P. Sterling Morrison
The Velvet Underground - Pale Blue Eyes (Redux Live MCMXCIII)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQzPvJWeofU
FYI SPC Woody Bullard SFC William Farrell SPC Michael TerrellSPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D PO1 H Gene LawrencePO2 (Join to see) SGT Steve McFarland 1LT Voyle Smith SPC Nancy GreeneLTC David Brown COL Lisandro Murphy MSgt Dale Johnson Maj Robert Thornton MGySgt (Join to see) PVT Mark Zehner SPC Michael Oles SR CSM Charles Hayden CSM Bruce TregoPO3 Lynn Spalding SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQzPvJWeofU
FYI SPC Woody Bullard SFC William Farrell SPC Michael TerrellSPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D PO1 H Gene LawrencePO2 (Join to see) SGT Steve McFarland 1LT Voyle Smith SPC Nancy GreeneLTC David Brown COL Lisandro Murphy MSgt Dale Johnson Maj Robert Thornton MGySgt (Join to see) PVT Mark Zehner SPC Michael Oles SR CSM Charles Hayden CSM Bruce TregoPO3 Lynn Spalding SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth
(7)
(0)
LTC Stephen F.
Crystal Gayle - Don't it Make my Brown Eyes Blue - Live [Restored]
Crystal Gayle - Don't it Make my Brown Eyes Blue - Live [Restored]
Crystal Gayle - Don't it Make my Brown Eyes Blue - Live
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyyhQUXCrJM
FYI SSG Michael Noll SFC (Join to see)SGT Denny EspinosaSP5 Dennis LobergerSSG Robert WebsterSGT Randell RoseSGT James MurphySgt Jim BelanusSPC Woody BullardSSG Byron HewettPFC Craig Karshner SGT (Join to see) SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth LTC Hillary Luton SPC Diana D. SPC Margaret Higgins CSM Chuck Stafford SFC Chuck Martinez Sgt John H. CPL Linda B.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyyhQUXCrJM
FYI SSG Michael Noll SFC (Join to see)SGT Denny EspinosaSP5 Dennis LobergerSSG Robert WebsterSGT Randell RoseSGT James MurphySgt Jim BelanusSPC Woody BullardSSG Byron HewettPFC Craig Karshner SGT (Join to see) SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth LTC Hillary Luton SPC Diana D. SPC Margaret Higgins CSM Chuck Stafford SFC Chuck Martinez Sgt John H. CPL Linda B.
(7)
(0)
9
9
0
Good "R.E.D Friday" Morning my good friend and Astronomy Enthusiast Maj William W. 'Bill' Price - sorry my friend is has been a long time since I've been caught up enough to respond to your awesome morning posts brother... been super busy with the move, buying property, traveling to Costa Rica, and then working on finding the right builder here in Texas... Have a great day and always remember I check you APODs out each day and may only have time to vote up the great share. Enjoy your weekend as well Bill!
(9)
(0)
9
9
0
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google