This composite image shows the Christmas Tree Cluster. The blue and white lights (which blink in the animated version of this image) are young stars that give off X-rays detected by NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory. Optical data from the National Science Foundation’s WIYN 0.9-meter telescope on Kitt Peak shows gas in the nebula in green, corresponding to the “pine needles” of the tree, and infrared data from the Two Micron All Sky Survey shows foreground and background stars in white. This image has been rotated clockwise by about 160 degrees from the astronomer’s standard of North pointing upward, so that it appears like the top of the tree is toward the top of the image.
Related posts
-
Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong’s gold Omega moonwatch sells for record $2.2M at auction
A new record has been set for the most paid at auction for an astronaut’s timepiece.... -
NASA developing 1st-ever space-based quantum sensor for gravity measurements
Scientists are developing an advanced quantum sensor for low Earth orbit that can detect the tiniest... -
Origins Uncertain: ‘Skull Hill’ Rock
Explore This Section Perseverance Home Mission Overview Rover Components Mars Rock Samples Where is Perseverance? Ingenuity...