A new image released to celebrate the 23rd
anniversary of Hubble has captured a stunning
infrared view of the Horsehead Nebula, one
of the most distinctive objects in our skies.
These infrared observations pierce through
parts of the thick, obscuring dust, revealing
the delicate wisps of gas that make up the
HorseheadÕs famous and familiar shape.
Some of us have followed Hubble from its conception
and birth, through its childhood and teenage
years, to see it emerge as a fully-fledged
adult.
Now, at the age of 23, Hubble is aging Ñ
but more capable than ever.
And every year of observing continues to bring
us cutting-edge science, and stunning astronomical
images.
Some of the most striking and beautiful subjects
of these images have been nebulae.
These come in all shapes and sizes, and often
seem to take on familiar or recognizable forms.
Nebulae are vast interstellar clouds of gas
and dust.
There are several different types of nebulae,
and they can take on a wide range of shapes
and appearances.
For example, the Eagle Nebula was formed by
a collapsing interstellar cloud, and it glows
due to the hot new stars forming within and
around it.
Some nebulae form in much more dramatic ways
Ñ like the Helix Nebula, for example.
It is the result of a once Sun-like star blowing
off its outer layers.
Or the Crab Nebula, which is what remains
of a massive star that exploded as a supernova
back in 1054.
One of the most striking and distinctive nebulae
in our skies is the Horsehead Nebula, due
to its clear and curiously familiar shape.
Hubble imaged this nebula back in 2001 to
celebrate its 11th year of observing Ñ and
now, over a decade later, it is again involved
in the telescopeÕs birthday celebrations.
Rising from a sea of gas and dust like a giant
sea horse, this dusty region is a great example
of a dark nebula Ñ a cold, dark, cloud silhouetted
against a background of glowing gas.
But despite this nebulaÕs fame and popularity,
this new image from Hubble now shows it in
a whole new light Ñ quite literally!
This image was taken in the infrared.
In infrared light, we can pierce right through
some of the bulky plumes of dusty material
which usually mask and obscure the inner regions
of the Horsehead.
The result is this rather fragile-looking
structure, made of delicate, wispy folds of
gas Ñ very different to the nebulaÕs appearance
in the visible.
Infrared light has longer wavelengths than
visible light.
We cannot see this radiation with our eyes
alone, and so have capable infrared telescopes
or instruments Ñ for example, HubbleÕs Wide
Field Camera 3.
Seemingly normal-looking areas of sky can
suddenly appear to be dramatically different
in this part of the spectrum.
This striking new view of the Horsehead Nebula
is a fitting celebration of an incredible
23 years of the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope.
This is Dr J, signing off for the Hubblecast.
Once again, nature has surprised us beyond
our wildest imagination.
