Cone Nebula Wall Poster

In this photograph the “cone” itself is similiar to the Horsehead nebula, a dusty protuberance illuminated by a bright star. Also, here, evident as curious low contrast wisps and loops, are some of the largest Herbig-Haro objects known. These low contrast features are often associated with outflows from young stars. As in the Horsehead, the vivid red back-illumination is provided by the glowing surface of a molecular cloud illuminated by several very hot stars. This image is one of a few made at optical wavelengths to reveal subtle signs of newly formed but still hidden stars, not yet free of their dust cocoon. Light from these stars is strongly scattered, partly absorbed and then reflected by the dust and is seen as small yellow nebulae against the red backdrop. Soon, these stars too will blow away their dusty fronds and become as visible as those in the foreground.

This picture was made from a series of three photographic plates taken at the prime focus of the 3.9m Anglo-Australian Telescope located on Siding Spring Mountain, New South Wales, Australia. The photograph was produced by combining images taken separately in red, green and blue light. This complex process was necessary because color films are not sensitive enough to record very faint objects. This picture is an accurate reflection of the colors of the universe, much as the eye might see them if it could be made a million times more sensitive. Text/Caption Appearing on This Print

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