A stunning image of the Trifid Nebula (APOD)

[pokerfan]

Image Credit & Copyright: R Jay Gabany

Explanation: The beautiful Trifid Nebula is a cosmic study in colorful contrasts. Also known as M20, it lies about 5,000 light-years away toward the nebula rich constellation Sagittarius. A star forming region in the plane of our galaxy, the Trifid illustrates three different types of astronomical nebulae; red emission nebulae dominated by light emitted by hydrogen atoms, blue reflection nebulae produced by dust reflecting starlight, and dark nebulae where dense dust clouds appear in silhouette. The bright red emission region, roughly separated into three parts by obscuring, dark dust lanes, lends the Trifid its popular name. In this well met scene, the red emission is also juxtaposed with the telltale blue haze of reflection nebulae. Pillars and jets sculpted by newborn stars, below and left of the emission nebula's center, appear in Hubble Space Telescope close-up images of the region. The Trifid Nebula is about 40 light-years across.

Follow the links to get the embiggened (2048x2048px) image: http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap110513.html

[tridim]

1. Love the 3D-ness of the image..

You might want to remove the period after your link.

[pokerfan]

2. Thanks

Done.

[damntexdem]

3. Watch out: it shoots poison and kills.

Well, it would if it had another 'f' in its name, anyway.

[FSogol]

4. Rocky Horror?

"I really got hot when I saw Janette Scott fight a triffid that spits poison and kills." :-)

[Ichingcarpenter]

6. The Immunity Syndrome

Is what it reminded me of.

[sinkingfeeling]

5. Beautiful!

[Permanut]

7. Delightful! Thanks Pokerfan!